John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah , etc.] Whom Josephus calls Jadon, perhaps the same with Iddo, who is by the Jewish writers generally thought to be this man of God, and which may seem to be countenanced by ( 2 Chronicles 9:29) but cannot be, because this man was quickly slain, whereas Iddo lived after Rehoboam, and wrote his acts, first and last, nay, after Ahijah his son, ( 2 Chronicles 13:22) and for the same reason Shemaiah cannot be the man of God, ( 1 Kings 12:22), though Tertullian calls him Sameas, and designs Shemaiah: but, whoever he was, he came by the word of the Lord to Bethel : that is, by his command: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense ; at the time he came, ( 1 Kings 12:33).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - In threatening the altar, the prophet threatens the founder an worshippers. Idolatrous worship will not continue, but the word of the Lord will endure for ever. The prediction plainly declared that the family of David would continue, and support true religion, when the te tribes would not be able to resist them. If God, in justice, harden the hearts of sinners, so that the hand they have stretched out in sin the cannot pull in again 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 that hate the preaching, would be glad of the prayers of faithful ministers. Jeroboam does not desire the prophe to pray that his sin might be pardoned, and his heart changed, but onl that his hand might be restored. He seemed affected for the presen with 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 apostacy from God, and to teach u not to have fellowship with the works of darkness. Those have no learned self-denial, who cannot forbear one forbidden meal.
Original Hebrew והנה2009 אישׁ376 אלהים430 בא935 מיהודה3063 בדבר1697 יהוה3068 אל413 בית אל1008 וירבעם3379 עמד5975 על5921 המזבח4196 להקטיר׃6999
