Who was the old prophet from Bethel, and who was the young prophet he lied to?
1 Kings 13:1 - 34
ESV - 1 And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the Lord : 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.'
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Asked July 22 2023
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Nelson Ramirez
Supporter
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Shirley H
Supporter
Truth is eternal and unchanging. God is Truth. In my estimation these questions cannot be answered. The point of this chapter is that believers, now as in the past live in lion country. Galatians 1:8,9: "But even if we ourselves, or an angel from heaven preaches to you a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let God's curse be on him. I repeat again - what we declared before: anyone who preaches to you a gospel other than the one you were first given is to be under God's curse." (New Jerusalem Bible) It is dangerous to turn your back on God's truth. His truth is revealed in the Holy scriptures. This story is reported for our learning. It is not history. It is didactic. It is for every generation. Always compare what you hear to scripture. This chapter is the beginning of a process that culminates in the "Living Word." 1 Peter 5: 8,9:.."unload all your burdens on to Him, since He is concerned about you. Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand up to Him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that it is the same kind of suffering that the community of your brothers is undergoing." Thank God for His Holy Words!
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Nelson! We don't know who the old prophet was; he is unnamed. What we do know about him is that he had sons (how many is unknown) who reported to their Dad the message that the young prophet gave King Jeroboam. It was a prophecy against idolatry, the idolatrous altar he had built in a religious town, Bethel. That prophecy was later to be fulfilled in 2 Kgs 23:15-20. The young prophet (younger in comparison with the old prophet) this young prophet was "an unnamed man whose fascinating story lies in its mixture of courage and weakness (1 Kings 13:1-3)." --Herbert Lockyer He was a "man of God," which was a common title for a prophet (1 Kings 12:22). He comes on the scene as anti-social (1 Kings 13:8), but he was just trying to be obedient to God and not be bought off by Jeroboam, for whom he had an unsettling message from God. -- Quest Study Bible
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