In the close of the foregoing chapter we left Jeroboam attending his altar at Beth-el, and there we find him in the beginning of this, when he received a testimony from God against his idolatry and apostasy. This was sent to him by a prophet, a man of God that lived in Judah, who is the principal subject of the story of this chapter, where we are told, I. What passed between him and the new king. 1. The prophet threatened Jeroboam's altar (ver. 1, 2), and gave him a sign (ver. 3), which immediately came to pass, ver. 5. 2. The king threatened the prophet, and was himself made another sign, by the withering of his hand (ver. 4), and the restoring of it upon his submission and the prophet's intercession, ver. 6. 3. The prophet refused the kindness offered him thereupon, ver. 7-10. II. What passed between him and the old prophet. 1. The old prophet fetched him back by a lie, and gave him entertainment, ver. 11-19. 2. He, for accepting it, in disobedience to the divine command, is threatened with death, ver. 20-22. And, 3. The threatening is executed, for he is slain by a lion (ver. 23, 24), and buried at Beth-el, ver. 25-32. 4. Jeroboam is hardened in his idolatry, ver. 33, 34. "Thy judgments, Lord, are a great deep."
A Prophet Sent to Jeroboam; the Withering of Jeroboam's Hand. (b. c. 974.)