Temptation: The Old Prophet of Beth-El, the Prophet of Judah
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The narrative of the Old Prophet of Bethel and the Prophet of Judah is a compelling account found in 1 Kings 13, illustrating the theme of temptation and the consequences of disobedience to God's direct commands. This account serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of adhering to divine instructions and the dangers of being led astray, even by those who claim spiritual authority.

Context and Background

The account takes place during the reign of King Jeroboam in the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam had established a rival religious system to prevent his subjects from traveling to Jerusalem in Judah to worship. This included setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, which led the people into idolatry.

The Prophet of Judah

God sent a prophet from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message of judgment against the altar Jeroboam had erected. The prophet boldly proclaimed, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and upon you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you’” (1 Kings 13:2). As a sign, the altar was split apart, and its ashes poured out.

King Jeroboam, angered by the prophecy, stretched out his hand to seize the prophet, but his hand withered. The king pleaded for healing, and the prophet interceded, restoring Jeroboam's hand. Despite the king's invitation to dine with him and receive a reward, the prophet refused, citing God's command: "You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came" (1 Kings 13:9).

The Old Prophet of Bethel

An old prophet residing in Bethel heard of the events and sought out the man of God from Judah. He invited him to his home, but the prophet of Judah reiterated God's command not to eat or drink in that place. The old prophet, however, deceived him by claiming, "I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water’” (1 Kings 13:18). The prophet of Judah, swayed by the old prophet's words, returned with him and ate at his house.

Consequences of Disobedience

While they were eating, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet, who then pronounced judgment on the man of God for his disobedience: "Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you, but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to eat or drink, your body shall not be buried in the tomb of your fathers" (1 Kings 13:21-22).

After leaving Bethel, the prophet of Judah was killed by a lion, fulfilling the word of the LORD. The old prophet retrieved his body and mourned for him, burying him in his own tomb.

Theological Implications

This account underscores the seriousness of adhering to God's commands and the perils of succumbing to temptation, even when it comes from seemingly credible sources. It highlights the necessity of discernment and the dangers of false prophecy. The account also serves as a warning against the complacency of spiritual leaders who may lead others astray, intentionally or unintentionally.

The narrative of the Old Prophet of Bethel and the Prophet of Judah is a sobering reminder of the need for vigilance in spiritual matters and the unwavering commitment to God's word, regardless of external influences or pressures.
Nave's Topical Index
1 Kings 13:15-19
Then he said to him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Prophet Amos.
... to think of Job's trial, of Christ's temptation, and of ... is ascribed which was in
the Old Testament attributed ... to the altar at Jerusalem:""The prophet, it is ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

The Book of the Law
... "Remember the days of old,. ... of twenty, he had made an earnest effort to remove
temptation from his ... let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Obadiah; Or, Early Piety Eminent Piety
... continue gracious during a long life of temptation is to ... The prophet of God, who
was at that moment hated ... You know the old proverb, "He that would thrive must ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/obadiah or early piety eminent.htm

Ahab and Naboth
... built the laws of England on those old Ten Commandments ... of the Lord, which he spake
by Elijah the prophet.'. ... as Ahab was; rich or poor, our temptation is alike ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xi ahab and naboth.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... It was not the old tribal organisation that embarrassed him ... but prophesy not again
any more at Bethel: for it ... And Amos replied, "I was no prophet, neither was ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Paul's Departure and Crown;
... to be king of Israel, and Elisha prophet in his room ... 19] but yet, no doubt, with
great temptation to shun ... to the garden that Judas knew, his old accustomed place ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/pauls departure and crown.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... The prophet of Judah could tell by this, what God would ... a catalogue of the worthies
of the Old Testament, he ... when he is not under some great temptation, and he ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... this had been the occasion of the temptation of Abraham ... He appeared as an old man
to show Nimrod how ... 5:8), under which, by advice of the prophet Zechariah, they ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... Of them shall they be that build the old wastes, and ... of God.' As he saith by the
prophet, 'I am ... her beginning and duration of distress and temptation (Isaiah 27 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... for a time, and deferred rather than removed the temptation. ... The Bactrians throw
their old men to dogs which ... windows of the eyes, and the prophet's words are ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

Resources
Why is idol worship such a powerful temptation? | GotQuestions.org

What was the meaning and purpose of Jesus' temptations? | GotQuestions.org

How does Satan tempt us? | GotQuestions.org

Temptation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Temptation

Temptation of Christ

Temptation: A Test

Temptation: Abimelech

Temptation: Abraham Leads Pharaoh

Temptation: Achan

Temptation: Always Conformable to the Nature of Man

Temptation: Balaam

Temptation: Balak Tempts Balaam

Temptation: Blessedness of Those Who Meet and Overcome

Temptation: Christ is Able to Help Those Under

Temptation: Christ Keeps Faithful Saints from the Hour of

Temptation: Christ: Endured, from the Devil

Temptation: Christ: Endured, from the Wicked

Temptation: Christ: Intercedes for his People Under

Temptation: Christ: Overcame

Temptation: Christ: Resisted by the Word of God

Temptation: Christ: Sympathises With Those Under

Temptation: Comes From: Covetousness

Temptation: Comes From: Lusts

Temptation: David

Temptation: Does not Come from God

Temptation: Eve

Temptation: Evil Associates, the Instruments of

Temptation: General Scriptures Concerning

Temptation: Gideon Leads the People of Israel Into Sin

Temptation: God Cannot be the Subject of

Temptation: God Enables the Saints to Bear

Temptation: God Knows How to Deliver Saints out of

Temptation: God Will Make a Way for Saints to Escape out of

Temptation: God Will not Suffer Saints to be Exposed To, Beyond Their

Temptation: Has Strength Through the Weakness of the Flesh

Temptation: Jeroboam

Temptation: Jeroboam Leads the Northern Kingdom (Israel) Into

Temptation: Joseph

Temptation: Leading Into: Prayer Against Being Led Into

Temptation: Mere Professors Fall Away in Time of

Temptation: Often Arises Through: Poverty

Temptation: Often Arises Through: Prosperity

Temptation: Often Arises Through: Worldly Glory

Temptation: Often Ends in Sin and Perdition

Temptation: Often Strengthened by the Perversion of God's Word

Temptation: Paul

Temptation: Permitted As a Trial of Disinterestedness

Temptation: Permitted As a Trial of Faith

Temptation: Peter

Temptation: Resistance To

Temptation: Saints May be in Heaviness Through

Temptation: Saints should Avoid the Way of

Temptation: Saints should not to Occasion, to Others

Temptation: Saints should Pray to be Kept From

Temptation: Saints should Resist, in Faith

Temptation: Saints should Restore Those Overcome By

Temptation: Saints should Watch Against

Temptation: The Devil is the Author of

Temptation: The Devil Will Renew

Temptation: The Old Prophet of Beth-El, the Prophet of Judah

Temptation: To Distrust of God's Providence

Temptation: To Presumption

Temptation: To Worshipping the God of This World

Temptation: Yielding to Achan

Temptation: Yielding to Adam and Eve

Temptation: Yielding to Balaam

Temptation: Yielding to David, to Commit Adultery

Temptation: Yielding to Hezekiah

Temptation: Yielding to Isaac, to Lie

Temptation: Yielding to Jacob, to Defraud Esau

Temptation: Yielding to Peter

Temptation: Yielding to Sarah, to Lie

Temptation: Yielding to Solomon, to Become an Idolater Through the Influences of his Wives

Temptation: Yielding to The Prophet of Judah

Temptation: Yielding to To Count the Nation of Israel

Related Terms

Tempt (18 Occurrences)

Points (18 Occurrences)

Weak (102 Occurrences)

Frail (6 Occurrences)

Phygellus (1 Occurrence)

Phygelus (1 Occurrence)

Serpent (40 Occurrences)

Tried (96 Occurrences)

Satan (50 Occurrences)

Endure (90 Occurrences)

Outlet (3 Occurrences)

Overtaken (36 Occurrences)

Willing (152 Occurrences)

Watching (111 Occurrences)

Tempted (25 Occurrences)

Rescue (92 Occurrences)

Eve (5 Occurrences)

Praying (71 Occurrences)

Provide (74 Occurrences)

Baggage (15 Occurrences)

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)

Provocation (20 Occurrences)

Issue (59 Occurrences)

Conscience (36 Occurrences)

Lest (282 Occurrences)

Escape (142 Occurrences)

Watch (203 Occurrences)

Snare (69 Occurrences)

Indeed (628 Occurrences)

Enter (372 Occurrences)

Evil (1503 Occurrences)

Common (118 Occurrences)

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)

Seized (118 Occurrences)

Flame (61 Occurrences)

Old (3966 Occurrences)

Strength (517 Occurrences)

Forward (252 Occurrences)

Allow (86 Occurrences)

Mayest (240 Occurrences)

Temptations (9 Occurrences)

Son (25967 Occurrences)

Lead (192 Occurrences)

Deliver (397 Occurrences)

Beyond (209 Occurrences)

Nature (80 Occurrences)

Fall (522 Occurrences)

Heaven (653 Occurrences)

Stand (542 Occurrences)

Testament (13 Occurrences)

Suffer (195 Occurrences)

Body (562 Occurrences)

Virgin (62 Occurrences)

Adam (29 Occurrences)

Sin (782 Occurrences)

Bring (1372 Occurrences)

Man's (347 Occurrences)

Birth (357 Occurrences)

Desert (322 Occurrences)

Ones (687 Occurrences)

Yours (226 Occurrences)

Quarantania

Volition

Kind (290 Occurrences)

Unwise (16 Occurrences)

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)

Offence (27 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

One (26466 Occurrences)

Opportune (4 Occurrences)

Lying (203 Occurrences)

Lusts (28 Occurrences)

Wishing (25 Occurrences)

Welcomed (30 Occurrences)

Wakeful (3 Occurrences)

Incapable (5 Occurrences)

Illness (15 Occurrences)

Inasmuch (42 Occurrences)

Temptation: The Devil Will Renew
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