The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 292

CHAPTER XIII. 11-34. Ver 11.-Nowthere dwelt a.n old prophet [Heb. a certain (lit. one) old prophet. For THE DISOBEDIENCE A.ND DEATH 01!' THE this use of iQI$ ( =n,) cf. 1 Kings xx. 13; JLI.N oF Goo.-The seduction of the man xix. 4] at Bethel [It is at first somewhat of God, who has borne such fearless witness surprising to find one of the prophetic order ngai.nst Jeroboam's ecclesiastical policy, and residin"' here, at the very seat and strong- hold or° the apostasy, especially after what his tragical end, are now narrated, partly we read in 2 Chron. xL 13-16, that the bece.llBe of the deep impression the story priests and Levites, and it would seem all made at the time, but principally becalll!e devout worshippers of the Lord God of these events were in themselves an eloquent Israel, had left the country, and had gone testimony e.gainst the worship of the co.Ives over to Rehoboam. For we cannot sup- pose that a sense of duty had kept this and the whole ecclesiastical policy of Jero- prophet at hie post (see note on ver. 1). The boam, and a solemn warning for all time fact that he remained,-not only in the lciog- against any, the slightest, departure from dom but at its ecclesiastical capita.I ; that he the co=and.ments of God. The ,ery un- stood by without protest when the schism was faithfulness of this accredited messenger being effected, and that, though not present himself at the sacrifice, he permitted his sons of the Most High, and the instant punish- to be there, is a sufficient index to his cha- ment it provoked, Lecame part of the Divine racter. It is quite possible that strong poli- protest against the new regime, against the tical sympathies had warped his judgment, un.fa.ithfnlness of Israel; whilst the remark- and that he had persuaded himself that the able manner in which these occurrences policy of Jeroboam was nec~seitated by the division of the kingdom, which he knew to were recalled to the nation's memory in the be from the Lord and whioh one of his own reign of Josiah (2 Kings xxiii. 17, 18) ma.de order had foretold. Or it may be that, despite it impossible for the historian of the theo- hie better judgment, he had g?ne with his cracy to pass them over without notice. tribe and the majority of the nat10n, nnd now OJI, Xlll, 11-84,l THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 295