Question 1

Who is the "man of God" who comes from Judah to Bethel?

Accepted Answer

The passage does not give the man of God’s name, but it shows clearly what kind of person he is. He is a prophet sent from Judah with a clear word from the Lord for King Jeroboam’s altar at Bethel. His task is to speak against the false worship there and to announce what God will do in the future, including the coming of a king named Josiah. At first he obeys God very carefully, even turning down the king’s offer of food and reward, but later he fails when he believes a lie and goes against God’s command.

Question 2

What is the meaning of the prophecy about Josiah by name?

Accepted Answer

The man of God speaks of a future child from the house of David, named Josiah, who will one day offer the priests of the high places on that very altar and burn human bones on it. This shows that God already knows and controls future events, even naming a king long before he is born. The message is that the idolatrous worship Jeroboam has started will not last. God will raise up a ruler from David’s line to tear down false worship and judge the priests who lead people into sin at the high places.

Question 3

Why does the altar at Bethel split and Jeroboam’s hand wither?

Accepted Answer

The sign on the altar and Jeroboam’s withered hand both confirm that the message from the man of God is truly from the Lord. When the prophet cries out, the altar breaks and the ashes pour out, just as he said. When Jeroboam stretches out his hand to seize the prophet, his hand dries up so he cannot pull it back. These events show God’s power over the king and over the false worship system. They are warnings that resisting God’s word and attacking His messengers is serious, and that God will bring judgment on idolatry.

Question 4

Why did God judge the man of God so severely for eating and drinking?

Accepted Answer

The man of God had been given a very clear command: he must not eat bread, drink water, or go back by the same way. This was meant to keep him separate from the idolatrous place and to show that God’s word cannot be softened by gifts or friendship. When he listens to the old prophet’s lie about an angel changing the message, he chooses a human voice over the command he already knew. His death by the lion shows that God expects His servants to hold fast to His word, and that even a true prophet is not above obedience.

Question 5

Why did the old prophet from Bethel lie to the man of God?

Accepted Answer

The passage tells us that the old prophet said an angel had spoken to him, but it also says plainly that he lied. It does not fully explain his motives, but it does show the danger he created. By using spiritual language and claiming a message from God, he led a faithful man into disobedience. Later, God really does speak through this same old prophet to pronounce judgment on the man of God. This tangled story warns that some who claim to speak for God can mislead others, so every message must be tested against what God has already clearly said.

Question 6

What is the significance of the lion, the carcass, and the untouched donkey?

Accepted Answer

The scene with the lion is unusual on purpose. The lion kills the man of God, but does not eat the body or attack the donkey. Both animals stand by the corpse in the road. People pass by and see this strange sight. This is not a normal animal attack, but a sign that the man’s death is a direct act of God, just as was spoken. The lion is like an instrument of judgment. The untouched donkey and body underline that this is not random or by chance, but a controlled act showing that God has carried out His word exactly.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about false prophets and discernment?

Accepted Answer

The old prophet calls himself a prophet and speaks in God’s name, yet he lies when he claims that an angel changed God’s command. This shows that someone can use the right religious words and still lead people into disobedience. The man of God already knew what God had told him, but he let another voice overrule it. The lesson is to hold tightly to what God has clearly said and not change it because of a person’s age, title, or claim of a new message. Faithful readers are reminded to test every teaching against God’s known word.

Question 8

Why did Jeroboam not turn from his evil way after these signs?

Accepted Answer

Jeroboam sees the altar split, feels his hand wither, and then experiences God’s mercy when his hand is healed after the prophet prays. Yet the passage says that after all this he does not return from his evil way. He keeps making anyone who wants to be a priest of the high places, and this sin leads to the downfall of his house. This shows that seeing miracles or getting relief from trouble does not by itself change the heart. True repentance would mean leaving his false worship and obeying God’s commands, but he chooses to hold on to his system.

Question 9

How can this story about the man of God apply to believers today?

Accepted Answer

This story presses home how serious it is to listen carefully to what God says and to obey it, even when there are pressures, rewards, or new voices claiming fresh messages. The man of God started well but stumbled when he let another person’s claim override the clear word he had already received. Today, this can encourage believers to stay close to Scripture, to be careful about any teaching that weakens what God has already made plain, and to remember that God cares not only that we speak for Him, but that we walk in steady obedience.

1 Kings 13:1

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

Jeroboam’s Hand Withers

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

Jeroboam’s Hand Withers

Cross References

1 Kings 13:1

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

Share Options

All Verses

Verse + Context

Current Verse

Jeroboam’s Hand Withers

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

Jeroboam’s Hand Withers

Cross References