John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. For so it was charged me by the word of the Lord , etc.] The command of the Lord, by which he came to Bethel, and cried against the altar there, ( 1 Kings 13:1,2) saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest : signifying that no communion was to be had with idolaters, nor any example to be set and followed; but the way to them, and to their idolatry, was to be shunned and avoided.
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 כי3588 כן3651 צוה6680 אתי853 בדבר1697 יהוה3069 לאמר559 לא3808 תאכל398 לחם3899 ולא3808 תשׁתה8354 מים4325 ולא3808 תשׁוב7725 בדרך1870 אשׁר834 הלכת׃1980
