John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord , etc.] By his order and command: and said, O altar, altar ; addressing himself not to Jeroboam, but the altar, thereby reproving his stupidity, the altar being as ready to hear as he; and because that was what moved the indignation of the Lord; and the word is repeated, to show the vehemency of the prophet’s spirit, and his zeal against it; though the Jews commonly say it respects both altars, that at Dan, as well as this at Bethel: thus saith the Lord, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name ; who was not born until three hundred years after this, according to the Jewish writers f325 : but it is generally reckoned to be more, even three hundred and fifty or three hundred and sixty years; this is a clear proof of the prescience, predetermination, and providence of God with respect to future events, contingent ones, such as depend upon the will of men; for what more so than giving a name to a child? upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee ; all which was fulfilled by Josiah, ( 2 Kings 23:15,16,20), it may be read, “the bones of a man”, which the Jews understand of Jeroboam; but may only signify that, instead of the bones of beasts, which were burnt on it, the bones of men should be burnt, and even of the priests themselves; a glaring proof this of the truth of prophecy, and of divine revelation.
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 ויקרא7121 על5921 המזבח4196 בדבר1697 יהוה3068 ויאמר559 מזבח4196 מזבח4196 כה3541 אמר559 יהוה3068 הנה2009 בן1121 נולד3205 לבית1004 דוד1732 יאשׁיהו2977 שׁמו8034 וזבח2076 עליך5921 את853 כהני3548 הבמות1116 המקטרים6999 עליך5921 ועצמות6106 אדם120 ישׂרפו8313 עליך׃5921
