Altar! Altar! This is what the Lord says (1 Kings 13-14)

1 Kings 13-14

Key Verse 13: 2 By the word of the LORD, he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you, he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’ ”

1.        [13:1-5] What was Jeroboam about to do (12:33; 13:1b)? Where (4)?  Who came and how (13:1a, 2a)? What did he cry out against the altar (2)? What sign did he give (3,5)? Why could Jeroboam not do anything against the man of God (4)? Discuss the significance of the word of God delivered by a man from Judah to Jeroboam.

Bethel: is located about 11 miles north of Jerusalem on the north-south ridge road at the tribal borders of Benjamin and Ephraim (Jos 16:1, 2; 18:13). (Shechem 40 miles north of Jerusalem: Shechem to Bethel (29 miles) is farther than Bethel to Jerusalem (11 miles). It was just on the border between Israel and Judah; this suits Jeroboam’s intention to prevent people from going to Jerusalem to worship.

Here he set up a totally new system of serving gods (ch 12).  Most likely he got such an idea while he stayed in Egypt as his ancestors did. It became the seed of all pagan worship including, which became evident at the time of King Josiah (2 Chr 34:4).

The name of Bethel, meaning “house of El (god),” was a place of pagan worship of the Canaanite deity at that early period. Jacob named the place Bethel, after receiving a dream from God there (Gn 28:10–22). though it had earlier been known as Luz (Gn 28:19). During the time of Judges, all tribes of Israel came up together to inquire of the Lord if they were to fight against Benjamites (Jud 20:18,26) and sacrificed to the LORD in thanks to God’s positive answer to them. According to Samuel’s direction, Saul met three men that were going up to worship God at Bethel, they were met by Saul on the day when he was chosen to be the king of Israel (1 King 10:3). These stories tell us that Bethel was used as an important cultic site for pagan and became an important city place for Saulites and became an important cultic site for Israel as well.

Here King Jeroboam, having set up an altar for the golden calf, with new priests on a new season of festival, (ch 12), was ready to sacrifice burnt offerings.  a) it was against God’s direction who chose him to be king,

1 King 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’ ”

This direction was an extension of God’s word concerning where to worship (Deut 12:11,14)

Deuteronomy 12:11 Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name--there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:14 Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. (NIV)

As noted above, Bethel was the place where God appeared to Jacob and responded to Israel in their war against Benjamites. But after full ratification of the Covenant, God made clear to Israel that they were to seek him and worship him at a specific place which He would choose. The specific place is where God would put His covenant.  By so commanding, God rejected and forbidden to use all other places as a place to worship Him.   What was this place different from all other places like Bethel? This passage speaks of two things: a specific place and a specific tribe. They are fused into one to represent the place where God impregnated His will and His spirit that shall reflect His name. Or this is the place where the spirit that would serve well the Covenant between Israel and the LORD lives. That is Jerusalem, and David’s the tribe of Judah.  This is the only place to worship the Lord in and of which God gave the Law of Covenant.  Simple similarity or likeness in shape and style of a cultic system with the genuine one does not make one right for God is the Spirit and He is looking for the spirit conforming to His will from His people. Most of the cults start with syncretism. They accept the LORD as their Lord while adopting a pagan way to approach the LORD. More than half of all major religions of the world is established on syncretic belief. Paul said of this in a concise word:   And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Rom 8:9b NIV) Simply no matter how it looks and sounds like an expression of their belief in the LORD, they had no basis of meaning or purpose of God for it was out of men’s idea for the purpose of meeting men’s desire to worship a deity.

Suddenly a man of God from Judah appeared and delivered a prophecy that Josiah, born in the house of David will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here. Three things are to be considered: first, who the man of God from Judah was, second what the message of God meant. Third, how Jeroboam should take the message delivered.

This man was known only as a man of God from Judah. No other information on him was given. This implies that he was a total stranger to Jeroboam and to all others who were about to join in sacrificing there. It was not necessary to know who it was because the focus of his coming was not himself but the word of God that he had to deliver. So, he came by the word of God and cried out against the altar by the word of God.

The fact that the word he delivered was from the Lord was proven by the power through a sign that the altar would split apart and ashes on it would be poured out. As soon as he gave a word of a sign, even before the sign was fulfilled, Jeroboam tried to arrest him. But his arm was frozen and could not move. In this way, through this man of God, God gave two signs to prove that the word delivered by this man was from the Lord; one on the altar and the other on Jeroboam himself.

The meaning of the prophecy: King Josiah (640-609 p5 introduction) would come about three hundred after Jeroboam (930-909). Judah’s King Josiah demolished pagan shrines (2 Kgs 23:15-20) and burned the bones of people.

16 Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things. (2 Kings 23)

The bones of the people who joined the sacrificing at the altar as well as the altar itself were defiled. The significance of this is stated in the next verses:

19 Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the LORD’s anger. 20 Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem. (2 Kings 23)

In this way, those who served the altar before as well as those who were serving at the time of Josiah were all condemned to eternal judgment (bones were burned). But Josiah left the man of God from Judah and the old prophet’s tomb were left untouched.

This tells us the ultimate meaning of what the old prophet did by identifying himself with the man from Judah. The old prophet, at the death of the man of God from Judah, came to believe firmly that the man of God from Judah was right and he was wrong.  And he accepted and believed the truthfulness of the word of the Lord, “all that sacrifice on this altar shall die”. In repentance, he did not follow the way of those who sacrificed at the altar in Bethel. This is further confirmed by his will to join with the man of God in his death. In this way, the old prophet escaped the eternal judgment that came on all those who participate in sacrificing at Bethel.  

What does this tell us? The man of God from Judah delivered the words of God that all idol worship shall meet the eternal judgment.  To doubters like the old man, he proved the truthfulness of God’s word by putting his own life as an example of those who disobey.

Here he did not sacrifice on the altar of Bethel. But he ate and drank with the old prophet, who was likely a part of Jeroboam’s group of godly men as a silent accomplice for pagan worship and did come back through the way that he came riding on a donkey of the old prophet ['by the way’ he had come; vv. 9–10) ‘on the way’ ( v. 24), his corpse is cast ‘on the road’ ( v. 24) ‘on the road’ (baderek; v. 25) are all same Hebrew word ‘baderek’ indicating the same road.]

The road seems to be the highway to and from the Bethel altar.  When one goes to the altar, he might take the road with the minds of all who take the road as they go to worship there. But when he returns, he should not have the same mind as those who had worshipped with happiness unaware of the evils of the altar. Instead, he must not join with those who were coming back with joy and happiness after worship. And he must take a hard, though it is an untrodden and rough road, in order not only not to go along with or not to join with the joy of those pagan worshippers but also, share the pain of the Lord whose heart is filled with utter disdain and aching over this pagan evil.  

disobey the word of the LORD, that says he must not eat or drink there and must not return through the same way he came.

The first one is clear; he must not do anything with the people of that place, who at best were accomplices for the sins of Jeroboam.   The only thing he must do or allowed to do is to deliver the message. And then nothing else!

Second, he must not return by the same way he went there. The man of God took another route in his way back at first. The son of the old prophet found out his way and caught up with him and this meeting ended with his violation of the word of the Lord.

, a son born to the house of David, removed all the high places and killed all the priests on those places.  The certainty of the fulfillment of this prophecy was already attested by the fact that the altar was split apart in their full view (5).  In this way, Gods showed His will to destroy the altar and all those who served at the altar will face God’s judgment.

2 Kings 23: 19 Just as he had done at Bethel, Josiah removed all the shrines at the high places that the kings of Israel had built in the towns of Samaria and that had aroused the LORD’s anger. 20 Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

2.        [6-10] What did the king ask the man of God (6)? When his hand was healed, what did he offer (7)? What was his answer (8)? Why (9)?  How did he obey God’s command (10)? Discuss what the purpose of God might be by sending this man to Jeroboam.

Having gone under the power of God, Jeroboam asked the man for help.

6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.”

Here he called the God of Israel, the LORD, the proper name and called the LORD as the God of the man from Judah.  Clearly, he was not thinking that the LORD was his God. We know that he went to Egypt and spent much time there before he became king. In Egypt, there were many gods and the Pharaoh appoints and directs all priests to carry out cultic procedures and ceremonies.  In other words, Jeroboam transplanted the system of pagan religion in Egypt into Israel.

Nonetheless, God healed the king’s hand and he was restored. He wanted to befriend with the man of God and asked to come to share a meal with him. He might have reasoned that if this man was to work on behalf of him, he would be much better.  By befriending with him, Jeroboam thought he could get the power of the LORD as well. But the man of God flatly rejected this, saying that even the half of his kingdom could not buy such friendly association for the LORD commanded him two things: he must not eat or drink and he must not return by the way he came (9). What he was doing was not on his own accord but on God’s command. Jeroboam had the only one choice; that was to listen to God’s command. Soon this man took another road to return. Like this, suddenly a man came and gave him God’s word, and left.  Jeroboam was left with one thing; the word of God that condemned the altar and he should not carry out any cultic rituals there to seek his gods or even the God of Israel.  If anyone would do so, then, his bone would be burned, a fire judgment.  

3.        [11-19] When an old prophet in Bethel found out what went on between Jeroboam and the man of God, what did he do (11-15)? On receiving the same answer from the man of God, how did the old prophet persuade him (18-19)?

The second part of this story is about the life of the man of God from Judah. There was a certain old prophet living in Bethel. The Old prophet might have remained inactive. Though he saw all that was happening in Bethel, he did not concern about Jeroboam’s idol worship, remained in silence—either because of his indifference or ignorance or because of his fear of Jeroboam. When he heard the incident, he was not only intrigued but also somewhat alarmed since he had been a silent partner with king Jeroboam. So, he immediately went after the man of God and caught up with him. He wanted to test if the message he delivered as well as the man was truly of God or not.  This old prophet asked him the same question that Jeroboam asked. The man repeated what God told him and refused to follow the old prophet. Then the old prophet told him in deception that he was also a prophet and an angel of the Lord told him to bring him back to his house to share meal and fellowship. Without a question, if the old prophet was telling a lie or not, the man of God man accepted what the old prophet said and went back with him and shared a meal with him.

4.         [20-32] What word came to the old prophet (21-22)? On his way home what happened to the man of God (23-24)? Who came to hear the tragic death of the man (25)?  What was his understanding of the death of the man of God (26)? What did the old prophet find (27-28)?  Where did he bury the man and what did he tell his son (30-31)? Why (32; Ref. 2 Kings 23;15-20)?

While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet

21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. 22 You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’ ”

While sharing a meal, the LORD delivered the same message that he had received before through the old prophet. Whether this man knew that the old prophet said was true or not is not known. But regardless, this man violated God’s command and God delivered His punishment for this man’s disobedience. It is important to note that God used the old prophet to deliver this message. I noticed that Dr. Sam Lee assigned someone to deliver a message on a particular passage so that he might receive that passage in his life. So, his primary purpose of assigning the one to that particular passage was not the audience but the messenger. I see the similar purpose of God here. By letting the old prophet deliver the message, he might learn and accept that message. The man of God from Judah was a man of God! The primary concern for the entire passage (ch 13) is Jeroboam’s altar in Bethel and all those who were associated with cultic rituals in that place of which the old prophet might be the head of them all.  So, from the beginning to the end of all that the man of God said and did was to serve that purpose. Simply it was not to teach the man of God from Judah that this man incurred his death by disobedience.

 In addition, we are to question; Does God changes his mind or his plan? Or does he rescind what He commanded earlier?  In general, such a thing is rare or unfit for God’s character for the Lord is all-knowing and His speaks the truth and does not test one just for the sake of testing his servant’s genuine obedience.  Was he too naïve to discern the lie? Or should this man have blamed for his naïve that resulted in disobedience?  

After sharing a meal, the man of God went back through the same way that he came riding on the old man’s donkey [The man of God should leave by another way (bĕderek) But he went on the way and found dead ‘on the way’ (baderek; v. 24, v 25)] Here he showed his deliberate disobedience to the word revealed again through the old prophet.  Is it an open rebellion to the unfairness of the LORD or was it an expression of anger against? Or is it a cataleptic state of his mind loaded with sorrow over the power of death?   

The man of God himself violated God’s command. On his way back, he died by a lion. Some saw his death and reported this to the town and all of the towns came to know his death. Surely this included Jeroboam as well. The old prophet came and saw the scene of this man’s death, and confirmed that his death was not of the ferocious lion but of the hands of God through the lion for the lion had neither eaten the body nor mauled the donkey.

How should we understand the death of the man of God? The right understanding comes through what the old prophet did.  

The old prophet took the body and mourned for the man ‘alas my brother’. The old prophet counted the man as his genuine brother for he was wrong for the man’s disobedient act. Out of his unbelief in the words of God, he tested the genuineness of the word from the man and resulted in his death. In other words, he recognized his wrong being silent accomplice for the wrongs of King Jeroboam and out of ‘his self-righteousness’ tested the man and led him to death. For the first time in a long time, he came to see his wrongs through the man of God. He should have been died instead of the man. Both made a wrong move and should have a common fate; one by his own choice and the other by obedience in faith. To him, the man from Judah was far more righteous and he wanted to be with the man. So, he told his son to bury him at the side of the man from Judah.

Finally, we are to think about two things; why did the man of God listen to the word of the old prophet from the town of Bethel and even went on the same way he came even though God’s message against this was give anew? Second what it means that the old prophet wanted to be buried with the man of God?

It might be a pure misunderstanding. He failed to discern that the old prophet’s word was a lie. Is it possible that though he understood fully of the lie of the prophet, and yet he went ahead with him? If he did so, then why?

It is my understanding that this man of God from Judah did follow the old prophet with his willful decision not because he believed the lie of the old man. Actually, he was giving his life for the sake of the old prophet as well as for the entire people who were involved in worshipping at the altar in Bethel. By life (or by his death), the man of God became indelible evidence for the truthfulness of the word of God.  In this aspect, this man’s life and work seem to point to the Messiah Jesus. Such similitude is found in his title, the man of God from Judah, and in his work, carrying the word of the LORD and proving His word by giving his own life.  Jesus is the word from the LORD and came to give his life for all sinners with a clear message for those who are engaged in pagan worship. The message is this; God will surely condemn all who worship any gods other than the LORD Himself.  

5.        [33-34] After this event, what did Jeroboam do (33)? Why (6a; Cf. 12:26-27; 11:37-39)?  What fruit would it bear (34)? Discuss the meaning and significance of the message and life of the man of God to the old prophet, to Jeroboam and to us today.

There was a clear message from the Lord that the altar in Bethel was against the Lord. The priests of this altar would become sacrifices here. This message was proven to be from the Lord by two miracles, one on the altar and the other on Jeroboam himself.  In addition, by his disobedience and resulting in his death, the man of God from Judah became the example of those who would rebel against the word of God.  All these come up to one clear message; God declares that anyone who serve on this altar shall be put to death and eternal judgment.

Even with such an absolute and powerful message, Jeroboam was undeterred in pursuing his path to idolatry: a cultic system that are composed of high places, non-Levitical priests, and non-Mosaic-inspired sacrifices.

Why or how could he dare to do this? Three things helped him dare to do so.

First, his experience in Egypt gave him firm confidence how to succeed. In Egypt he saw a country with rich wealth and many idols and learned Pharaoh’s unbridle support for those idols.  He might have thought “If the system and the way of Egypt worked so well, then why can I replicate that system here under my leadership and will succeed in keeping my power and can make my country flourish in wealth?” Second, his felt-need for support from the people. His primary goal was how to make people happy (12:26-27). He could not make them happy by a human system, to quench the need for religiosity. This intention is well revealed in what he did. Third, the God of Israel, the LORD is one of many gods and can be served like any other gods of the time.

33 Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places.

In these fundamentals of his religion, Jeroboam stands with the people or religious gurus who set up so many religions of the world and who controls peoples’ mind by operating those systems.

At its root, all these came out in his rejection of the words of God because he did not honor the Lord as the Lord of all. What is the significance of such man-made cults?

34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

The downfall of his kingdom has begun and will end in the total destruction of his family and his dynasty from the earth. That is to say that God’s judgment has begun and shall surely be completed in time.

How will it be actually fulfilled? Ch 14 records in its details.

6.        [14:1-11] When, how and why did Jeroboam seek God’s help (1-4a; Ref. 11:29-31)? What message had God given to Ahijah (4b-5)? On the arrival of Jeroboam’s wife, what did Ahijah reveal (6)?  What would the Lord do to Jeroboam (10-11)? Why (7-9)?

Jeroboam came to a point whereby he could not find solution for the sickness of his son. God spoke of His power and His authority to judge through the sickness of this man’s son.  He was forced to come before the Lord by the sickness of his son. His word is clear: No religions or pagan worship can save man from his sickness. HE alone is the one who gives and takes life of man. All human beings shall come this point so that they may seek the LORD of life.

Yet he could not approach to Him with humility or in repentance for he rebelled against His word for his rebellion was ostensive to all and there was nothing left for him. In facing the sickness that might endanger his family as well as his dynasty, he was totally helpless.   In his desperation in fear, he sought to know what lies ahead of him through the help of the prophet, Ahijah, who guided him to the throne. But he could not do this openly because he knew that he did not well in the eyes of the Lord and if any bad news about his son become unveiled to all. The sickness of his son served him as the forewarning of the fate of his family and his dynasty for which he put all of his efforts. What is coming for his son and for his family and for his dynasty?   

7.        [12-20] What message did he give concerning her son (12-13) and the nation (14-15)? Why (16)? Discuss the sin of Jeroboam and its impact on his family and the nation Israel (Cf. 17-19)

Though Ahijah was blind and could not discern anything, God gave him His word of judgment on Jeroboam and his family. His message has three parts:

First, He gave the reason why God is punishing him: God raised him up to be the ruler of His people –it is His kingdom and His people and He set him as king. Yet Jeroboam did not follow David who kept God’s commands and followed the Lord with all his heart and became the model to follow; He did more evil than all who lived before him by making himself other gods, idols and aroused God’s anger (14:7-9).

Second, He delivered His judgment on him and his family:  All male will die in utter humiliation and family will be cut off for good. His name, his family is exterminated from the earth (14:10-11)!

Third, the boy will die as soon as she arrives back home. He will be the only one to be buried in honor for he was too young to know all those evils and did not participate in any of his father’s evil (14).

Fourth, for the nation, the Lord will strike the nation Israel and they will be exiled beyond Euphrates river (Exile in Assyria) because they aroused God’s anger by making Asherah poles (15). Though it was Jeroboam that set up pagan idols (including Asherah), it was ‘they’ that made Asherah pole. Israel as a whole were accomplices of the sin of Jeroboam!  

16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

Jeroboam’s life stands tall among all people of pagan beliefs.  Through what He did in the life of Jeroboam, the LORD of heaven and earth delivered the key message for concerning all idol worships or pagan beliefs or all syncretic ideas of this generation. NAC describe the importance of Jeroboam’s story in this way:

“Jeroboam is a tremendously important character in 1, 2 Kings. Indeed, one could argue that he is more significant for the story than Solomon, Hezekiah, or Josiah. After all, it was Jeroboam who was God’s instrument for punishing Solomon’s sins, which also ended Davidic rule over all Israel. Jeroboam’s religion had such a negative impact on Israel and Judah that it was a major factor in both countries’ demise. Finally, this clever yet unfaithful man’s life helped demonstrate the prophets’ significance. These individuals now emerge as the only reliable bearers of God’s word, as those who know the future, and therefore as those who should be consulted before important decisions are made.”

There is only one LORD and one truth that is in and through Christ. Jeroboam rejected the LORD, His message by the man of God from Judah and bore God’s wrath. All kings and kingdoms of this world must consider seriously the word delivered through the man of God from Judah, whose credentials are impeccably proven to be of the Lord of heaven and earth.