Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 13:1-10

"And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Jehovah unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar by the word of Jehovah, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a son shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men`s bones shall they burn upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which Jehovah hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beth-el, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Jehovah. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the favor of Jehovah thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God entreated Jehovah, and the king`s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place; for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth-el." — 1 Kings 13:1-10 (ASV)

In threatening the altar, the prophet threatens the founder and worshippers. Idolatrous worship will not continue, but the word of the Lord will endure forever. The prediction plainly declared that the family of David would continue and support true religion when the ten tribes would not be able to resist them. If God, in justice, hardens the hearts of sinners, so that the hand they have stretched out in sin they cannot pull back by repentance, that is a spiritual judgment, represented by this, and much more dreadful.

Jeroboam looked for help, not from his calves, but from God only, from his power, and his favour. The time may come when those who hate the preaching would welcome the prayers of faithful ministers. Jeroboam does not ask the prophet to pray that his sin might be pardoned and his heart changed, but only that his hand might be restored.

He seemed affected for the moment by both the judgment and the mercy, but the impression wore off. God forbade his messenger to eat or drink in Bethel, to show his detestation of their idolatry and apostasy from God, and to teach us not to have fellowship with the works of darkness. Those who cannot forgo one forbidden meal have not learned self-denial.