John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, this is the sign which the Lord hath spoken , etc.] As a confirmation of the truth of what the prophet had said, and for the proof of his being a true prophet of the Lord: behold, the altar shall be rent ; of itself, by an invisible hand, by the power of God: and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out ; signifying it should be entirely demolished, not only shaken but destroyed, so as not to be capable of retaining the ashes on it; this was an emblem of the utter abolition of idolatry here in future times.
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 ונתן5414 ביום3117 ההוא1931 מופת4159 לאמר559 זה2088 המופת4159 אשׁר834 דבר1696 יהוה3068 הנה2009 המזבח4196 נקרע7167 ונשׁפך8210 הדשׁן1880 אשׁר834 עליו׃5921
