1 Kings 13 23

1 Kings 13:23 kjv

And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

1 Kings 13:23 nkjv

So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back.

1 Kings 13:23 niv

When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him.

1 Kings 13:23 esv

And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back.

1 Kings 13:23 nlt

After the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet saddled his own donkey for him,

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 23 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate consequence of the man of God's disobedience. After he has eaten and drunk in violation of God's explicit command, the old prophet, who had lured him back, prepares a donkey for him. This act sets in motion the man of God's final journey, which will lead to his death as divine judgment for his transgression. It signifies the point of no return for the man of God, marking the completion of his act of rebellion against the Lord's clear instruction.

1 Kings 13 23 Context

1 Kings Chapter 13 chronicles the journey of a man of God from Judah to Bethel, sent by the Lord to pronounce judgment on Jeroboam's idolatrous altar. God gave the man of God a strict command: do not eat bread or drink water, and do not return by the same way you came. After delivering his message and witnessing miraculous signs, the man of God refused Jeroboam's offer of a reward, reiterating God's command. However, he was later deceived by an old prophet from Bethel, who lied about receiving a new word from an angel allowing him to eat and drink. The man of God, weary or swayed, disregarded the direct command of God he had received and returned with the old prophet to eat and drink. Verse 23 is the immediate aftermath of this fateful meal, preparing the man of God for his journey home, unaware that divine judgment awaited him for his act of disobedience, facilitated by the very deceiver. This entire episode serves as a powerful testament to God's uncompromising judgment against disobedience, even from His chosen messengers, and a warning against listening to false messages that contradict known divine commands. Historically, this event unfolds during Jeroboam's reign, when the northern kingdom of Israel had apostatized from true Yahwistic worship in Jerusalem, establishing idolatrous centers in Bethel and Dan.

1 Kings 13 23 Word analysis

• Now after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk:

  • This phrase emphasizes the completion of the disobedient act. The repetition of "after he had" highlights that the crucial transgression—eating and drinking against God's explicit command—is fully accomplished. This serves as a pivot point in the narrative.
  • "eaten bread" (אָכַל לֶחֶם, 'akhal lekhem) and "drunk" (שָׁתָה, shathah): These verbs directly refer back to the forbidden acts commanded by God in 1 Kings 13:8-9, and repeated by the man of God in 1 Kings 13:16. Their occurrence here signifies the man of God's clear transgression.

• the prophet whom he had brought back:

  • "the prophet" (הַנָּבִיא, han-navi): Refers to the older prophet from Bethel, who initiated the deception. His prophetic title is intentionally used, highlighting the tragic irony of a prophet lying in the Lord's name.
  • "whom he had brought back" (אֲשֶׁר הֵשִׁיבוֹ, asher heshivov): The Hebrew verb heshivo (from שׁוּב, shuv in the Hiphil causative stem) means "caused to return" or "brought back." This strongly emphasizes the old prophet's active role in luring the man of God away from his divinely ordained path and into transgression. It highlights the agency of the deceiver.

• saddled for him the donkey:

  • "saddled" (וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ, vayachavosh): The verb חָבַשׁ (chavash) means to bind, tie on, or saddle (a donkey). This portrays a domestic, seemingly helpful action, yet it directly facilitates the man of God's ill-fated journey. The old prophet, though an agent of deception, also physically prepares the means for the man of God's departure.
  • "for him" (לוֹ, lo): This clearly indicates the man of God as the recipient and beneficiary (though tragically) of the action of saddling. It underscores that this preparation is for his journey.
  • "the donkey" (הַחֲמוֹר, hachamor): The animal is a significant symbol in the narrative. Earlier, the man of God journeyed to Bethel on a donkey. His means of transportation back on a donkey, now provided by his deceiver, is a poignant detail leading to his unique end, where a lion kills him but leaves the donkey unharmed.

• for the old prophet:

  • לַנָּבִיא הַזָּקֵן (lan-navi ha-zaqen): This phrase indicates the agency or the belonging of the donkey to the old prophet, reinforcing that the old prophet provided the means of transportation. It could also emphasize that the act of saddling was done by the old prophet, or for the purpose/design of the old prophet. In essence, it reinforces the old prophet's continued involvement and responsibility in dispatching the man of God to his doom.

1 Kings 13 23 Bonus section

• The old prophet's actions here—saddling the donkey—might stem from a twisted sense of obligation, convenience, or perhaps even a superficial form of remorse or politeness after orchestrating the deception. His subsequent actions of retrieving the body and mourning show a complex character, one who facilitated judgment but was not without his own internal struggle.
• The donkey, a simple beast of burden, becomes a significant part of the prophetic sign in this chapter (1 Ki 13:24, 27-28). It is central to the man of God's mission, his betrayal, and ultimately, his death, standing unharmed beside the killed prophet, bearing silent witness to the severity of God's judgment against disobedience. This detail distinguishes the divine judgment from a mere accident, signifying miraculous divine intervention.
• The incident serves as a potent theological lesson on the non-negotiable nature of God's specific commands, regardless of the messenger or apparent authority. God does not allow His word to be easily set aside, and severe consequences follow when it is, especially for those who represent Him.

1 Kings 13 23 Commentary

1 Kings 13:23 marks the immediate, sober transition following the man of God's capitulation to temptation. The preceding meal was his act of definitive disobedience. This verse shows the old prophet, having secured the man of God's violation, now preparing for his departure. The action of saddling the donkey is mundane, yet it carries immense weight. It signifies the point of no return for the man of God; he has fully submitted to the false counsel and is now set on a path of judgment. The casual nature of the old prophet's actions—saddling his own donkey for the man of God—underscores the deceptive normalcy surrounding a gravely disobedient act. It subtly highlights how easily one can be led astray when discerning God's word by external validation rather than its inherent authority, especially from a "prophet." This moment prepares the scene for the divine consequence, where a lion would soon confront the man of God on his return journey, confirming God's unwavering resolve to uphold His word and execute judgment, even on His chosen messengers who stray. The chapter warns against substituting direct revelation from God with secondary, even "angelic" pronouncements, especially if they contradict an earlier, clear divine command.