The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 282

1t agree, as Rawlinson seems to think with avenge himself on the meee!'nger of God the LXX., which reads roiiro ro pijµa l} (Psa. cv. 14, 16).] iXa>u,1r, rvp,o,, &c.] the Lord hath spoken Ver. 6.-The &ltar also was rent [by the [i.e., by me. "This is the proof that my so.me invisible power, and probe.bl7 at the message is from Him, and is no idle threat. 11 same moment], a.nd the ashes poured out Wordsworth sees in this sign "a proof from the altar, according to the el.gn. which vouchsafed by God Himself to the man of the man of God had given by the word of Judah, as well as to Jeroboam, that he was the Lord. really sent by God, 11 &o. But surely a man Ver. 6.-And the king [humbled and who came " in the word of the Lord " !1'18.n?ed by the judgment he had experienced. and cried, "Thus sa.ith the Lord," want;d m his own person] answered a.nd said unto no proof that "he was doing God's bid- the ma.n of _God, Intreat now [The Heh. ia ding" (see I Oor. xiv. 22)] ; Behold, the veT'!/ express1ve--'_'Smooth or stroke theface." altar eba.11 b~ rent a.nd the ashes [strictly, It 1s an ex-press1on which occurs several f<a ashes. II?:); properly, "fatness" (see ti:r:nes. . ~ee especially Exod. xxxii. 11 ; 1 fudg. ix. 9 ; Psa. lx~. o. ,ruiT1/t, LXX.), ~ngs xm. 4; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12; Prov. lS the fat of the sacnfice, which was burnt nx. 6] of the Lord thy God [i.e., whose upon the altar, mixed with the ashes messenger thou art. "Jeroboam, con- tha.t consumed it] that are upon it sba.11 science-stricken, does not dare to call J eho- be poured out. [The sign, a partial de- vah his own God" (Wordsworth). This struction of the altar, and the scattering ~as probably the case, yet surely it is an of the sacrifice, was admirably calculated mference not warranted by the text. The to presage its ultimate and final and igno- expression, " The Lord thy God," is of con- minious overthrow. The idea favoured stant oocurrence, especially when a "man by Stanley (" Jewish Ch." ii. 280) that of God" is addressed ; cf. eh. xvii. 12 ; this prediction was fulfilled " if not before xviii. 10] , a.nd pray for me [This sudden at least II in the time of Amos, when th~ change in his bearing shows how much altar was destroyed by an earthquake shock Jeroboam was frightened. The sight, too, (Amos iL I; cf. iii. 14), does not seem to of the king humbly supplicating the pro- take account of ver. 5.J • phet who 11, moment before had protested Ver. 4.-A.nd it ea.me to pa.sa when king against the calf-worship was oalculated to Jeroboam [The A. V. follows the LXX. The make an impression on the minds of the Heh. omits "Jeroboam"] heard the saying people], that my hand may be restored me of the ma.n of God, which had cried against again. And the man of God besought the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his [lit., stroked the face of] the Lord, a.nd hand [instinctively. His first thought was, the king's hand was restored him, a.nd not to wo.it and see whether the promised became as lt was before. sign was given, but to seize and punish the Ver. 7.-And the king said unto the man man who ha.d dared thus to denounce and of God, Come home with me, and refresh thwart him. And we may imagine how ex- thyself [with food, ablutions, &c. (Gen. ti·emely mortifying this interruption must xviii. 4, 6; xix. 2; Mark vii. 3, &o.) We ai·e ha.ve been to him. It threatened the com- hardly justified in seeing in these words plete frustration of his policy at the very (with Bahr and Keil) an attempt to "gain moment when it seemed certain of success] the prophet over to bis side by friendliness," from the altar [the ledge or platform, i.e., and to render hie threat harmless in the where he stood. He did not leave it, but eyes of the people. Tho king doubtless shouted his commands to his servants], may have hoped that it would "blunt the sayiilg, Lay hold on him. [" A.rN~t him," edge of the prophet's denunciation of hie "let him not escape." One worr.. in the echisme.tical altar" (Wordsworth); but this Heb.J And his hand, which he put forth was not the object, or not the sole object, aga.lnst him, dried up [Possibly the result with which the invitation was given. Jero- of paralysis or tetanus (Ackermann in boam could not possibly have done Iese, Bahr). It was like the " withered hand" of after the signal service the man of God had the New Testament (Matt. xii. 10, &c.) rendered him, thrin invite him to his paJace. deprived of feeling and vital force, as the Eastern courtesy alone (Gen. xviii. 4; xix. next words showJ , so that he could not pull 2 ; xliii. 24, &c.) would require him to offer lt in a,ga.tn to him. [It was not only power- hospitality to h19 benefactor. And he could less to punish, it was punished. "Now scarcely hope that any hospitalities would stands the king of Israel, like some antique either neutra.lize the impression which the statue, in a posture of impotent endeavour" recent miracles bad made, or win over to his (Hall). This was a warning to the king, not side one who had a direct commission from so much age.inet hie unauthorized and the Most High to oppose him. With more tchismaticaJ. rites, as against his attempt to reason, Wordsworth cites 1 Se.m. xv. 80, OR, XIll, 1-10.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 285