John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And the king answered and said unto the man of God , etc.] In another tone than when he bid the people lay hold on him; not in a haughty, but humble manner; not as threatening, but supplicating: entreat now the face of the Lord thy God ; he does not say “my God”, for he had apostatized from him, and served other gods, but “thy” God, whose prophet he was, and who had an interest in him, as clearly appeared by what he had said and done by him; and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again ; not that the anger of God might be turned away from him, and he enjoy the divine favour, and have an application of pardoning grace made to him, only to have this outward mercy, this temporal favour restored to him, the use of his hand: and the man of God besought the Lord ; not rendering evil for evil; but being of a forgiving spirit, though the king had stretched out his hand against him, he lifted up his hands to heaven for him: and the king’s hand was restored again, and became as it was before ; which was another instance of divine power, and a further proof of the prophet’s divine mission; from whence it might be concluded, that what he had prophesied of would be fulfilled, and was an instance also of divine goodness to the king, which should have led him to repentance, but did not.
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 ויען6030 המלך4428 ויאמר559 אל413 אישׁ376 האלהים430 חל2470 נא4994 את853 פני6440 יהוה3068 אלהיך430 והתפלל6419 בעדי1157 ותשׁב7725 ידי3027 אלי413 ויחל2470 אישׁ376 האלהים430 את853 פני6440 יהוה3068 ותשׁב7725 יד3027 המלך4428 אליו413 ותהי1961 כבראשׁנה׃7223
