When he had gone, a lion met him by the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the path, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 24. Killed him. Thus the Lord often punishes his servants here, that he may spare them hereafter. For the generality of divines[theologians] are of opinion, that the sin of this prophet, considered with all its circumstances, was not mortal. Challoner.—He had received a positive order, and ought to have tried spirits, whether they were from God. 1 John 4:1. Galatians 6:18. Every prophecy which contradicts the word of God, comes from an evil principle. Calmet.—The prophet might suppose, however, that some cause had intervened, which authorized him to eat with this his brother, (verse 30.) whom he probably revered as a true prophet. Many of God’s commands are conditional. Bible.—Serenus observes, that God often inflicts death for the smallest faults. Cassian vii. 26. Saint Gregory Dial. iv. 24.—Saint Augustine (cura, chapter 7.) doubts not of the prophet’s salvation.—Body, without even hurting the ass, ver. 28. Bible.—God protected the relics of his servant, by stationing the lion for a guard. Procop. Menochius.—How impenetrable are the counsels of God! He suffers Jeroboam, and the prophet who had seduced his servant, to live; while he punishes the latter for a fault which he had committed undesignedly. But he thus purified him from guilt, ( Calmet.) while he reserved Jeroboam for more lasting torments in another world. Bible.—Nothing could prove more forcibly the existence of future rewards and punishments. Calmet.—Not only the deceiver, but he also who is deceived, so as to transgress God’s orders, must be punished. Worthington.