He said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the LORD’s word, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” He lied to him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 18. An angel spoke to me, and so forth This old man of Bethel was indeed a prophet, but he sinned in thus deceiving the man of God; the more, because he pretended a revelation for what he did; ( Challoner. Worthington.) though he did it with a good intention, and supposed that the prophet had only been forbidden to eat with Jeroboam and his followers. Theod. q. 42.—This lie might cause him to be styled, “a false prophet,” by Josephus. Abulensis thinks he was a wicked man, like Balaam; and many suppose that he was the chief instrument in deluding the king. Josep. Saint Gregory and so forth—After the man of God had been torn to pieces, he might easily persuade the people that he was only an impostor, and that the pretended miracles were merely the effects of natural causes. It is not certain that this man was inspired by God, verse 20.—Deceived. Hebrew “he lied unto him, ( Calmet.) and thus caused him to transgress. Worthington.