John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And it came to pass, when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who had cried against the altar in Bethel , etc.] He was highly provoked: so that he put forth his hand from the altar; on which he was burning incense: saying, lay hold on him ; he put forth his hand, and either shook it at the prophet, threatening what he would do to him; or as beckoning to the people to seize him, and which he also expressed: and his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him ; he could not move it one way nor another, but it remained in the same position, the nerves and muscles being shrunk; which was a further confirmation of the prophet’s mission from God, being one of those concerning whom he says, “do my prophets no harm”, and a fresh token of the certain performance of what he had said.
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 ויהי1961 כשׁמע8085 המלך4428 את853 דבר1697 אישׁ376 האלהים430 אשׁר834 קרא7121 על5921 המזבח4196 בבית אל1008 וישׁלח7971 ירבעם3379 את853 ידו3027 מעל5921 המזבח4196 לאמר559 תפשׂהו8610 ותיבשׁ3001 ידו3027 אשׁר834 שׁלח7971 עליו5921 ולא3808 יכל3201 להשׁיבה7725 אליו׃413
