1 Kings 13 13

1 Kings 13:13 kjv

And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,

1 Kings 13:13 nkjv

Then he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it,

1 Kings 13:13 niv

So he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it

1 Kings 13:13 esv

And he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him and he mounted it.

1 Kings 13:13 nlt

"Quick, saddle the donkey," the old man said. So they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 13 Meaning

This verse describes the old prophet in Bethel commanding his sons to prepare a donkey for him so he could pursue the Man of God from Judah. It details the swift obedience of his sons and his immediate mounting of the animal, setting in motion his deceptive plan to bring the Man of God back, leading to the latter's disobedience and subsequent death. It signifies the old prophet's determined and active role in instigating the tragic sequence of events.

1 Kings 13 13 Context

First Kings chapter 13 unfolds against the backdrop of King Jeroboam's new idolatrous worship system in Bethel, challenging the covenant relationship with Yahweh. God sends a Man of God from Judah to confront Jeroboam, delivering a powerful prophecy against his altar and new religious practices. The Man of God is given strict instructions by God not to eat or drink in Bethel and to return by a different way. He faithfully obeys, even refusing King Jeroboam's invitation for refreshment. However, an old prophet living in Bethel, upon hearing of these events from his sons, devises a cunning plan. Verse 13 marks the immediate initiation of this plan. The old prophet’s prompt action of saddling his donkey signifies his urgent desire and intent to deceive the Man of God, laying the groundwork for the Man of God's tragic disobedience and death, and underscoring the severity of violating a direct divine command, regardless of the source of temptation.

1 Kings 13 13 Word analysis

• Then he said: This indicates the immediate reaction and command from the old prophet, who is the central figure in this deceptive act. His words are presented as decisive.
• to his sons: Suggests that his sons are witnesses to, and active participants in, preparing for his deception. It highlights the involvement of his household in facilitating his pursuit.
• 'Saddle': The Hebrew word is חָבַשׁ (kha-vahsh), meaning to bind, to harness, to saddle. This command denotes an urgent preparation for a journey, indicating the prophet's determination to intercept the Man of God.
• the donkey: A common and readily available means of transport in ancient Israel. The mundane nature of the object contrasts with the profound spiritual deception it facilitates. The same donkey will later be central to the Man of God's judgment (1 Ki 13:24).
• 'for me': Emphasizes the personal initiative and selfish motivation of the old prophet to achieve his goal, which is to contradict and undermine the divine message delivered by the Man of God.
• So they saddled it for him: Demonstrates the prompt and unquestioning obedience of the sons, which helps to quicken the prophet’s mission.
• and he mounted it: The Hebrew word is וַיִּרְכָּב (vai-yir-kav), meaning "and he rode" or "and he mounted." This signifies his physical act of taking control and setting forth. It completes the picture of a man resolute in his deceptive pursuit.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Then he said to his sons, 'Saddle the donkey for me.'": This phrase portrays the old prophet as the orchestrator of the upcoming deceit. His command is direct and reveals an immediate impulse to action upon learning about the Man of God. It sets the stage for a dramatic pursuit fueled by human intent rather than divine guidance.
• "So they saddled it for him, and he mounted it.": This describes the swift execution of the old prophet's command. The immediate compliance of his sons and his readiness to mount the donkey demonstrate his eagerness and unwavering determination to intercept the Man of God. This quick transition from command to action underscores the gravity and the deliberate nature of his ensuing deception.

1 Kings 13 13 Bonus section

The speed with which the old prophet commands and executes his journey after hearing about the Man of God's mission from his sons suggests an urgency in his deceitful agenda. This contrasts sharply with the earlier narrative, where the Man of God strictly adhered to divine instruction regarding not eating or drinking. The old prophet’s ready actions emphasize the deliberate and unhesitating nature of his spiritual manipulation. This also points to a subtle polemic: a prophet of God's supposed community (living in Bethel, where God’s altar once stood, though now tainted by Jeroboam's idolatry) becomes the very source of spiritual downfall, contrasting with the foreign prophet sent from Judah who initially demonstrates genuine obedience. The ease with which the donkey is saddled and mounted underscores the apparent "naturalness" of the upcoming deceptive act, masking its grave spiritual implications.

1 Kings 13 13 Commentary

This verse is a crucial pivot point in 1 Kings 13, showing the swift and calculated preparation of the old prophet for his act of deception. His immediate command and quick mounting of the donkey reveal an active and intentional pursuit, rather than a passive encounter. It highlights the dangerous reality that even a recognized "prophet" can become an instrument of lies, leading another to disobedience against a direct word from God. This seemingly simple action—saddling and riding a donkey—is pregnant with spiritual peril, marking the initiation of a sequence that challenges the Man of God's faith and serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of false prophecy and yielding to temptation that contradicts clear divine instructions.