Page 565 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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JUNE 2
“Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he
stretched out toward him, withered, so that he
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could not pull it back to himself. The altar also
was split apart, and the ashes poured out from 13:18 He was lying to him. Why the old
the altar, according to the sign which the man prophet deceived the man of God the text
of God had given by the word of the LORD. does not state. It may be that his own sons
6 Then the king answered and said to the man were worshipers at Bethel or perhaps priests,
of God, “Please entreat the favor of the LORD and this man wanted to gain favor with the
your God, and pray for me, that my hand may king by showing up the man of God as an
be restored to me.” imposter who acted contrary to his own claim
So the man of God entreated the LORD, and to have heard from God. Accustomed to
the king’s hand was restored to him, and receiving direct revelations, the Judean
became as before. Then the king said to the prophet should have regarded the supposed
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angelic message with suspicion and sought
man of God, “Come home with me and refresh divine verification of this revised order.
yourself, and I will give you a reward.”
8 But the man of God said to the king, “If you
were to give me half your house, I would not disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not
go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink kept the commandment which the LORD your
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water in this place. For so it was commanded God commanded you, but you came back,
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me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall ate bread, and drank water in the place of
not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by which the LORD said to you, “Eat no bread and
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the same way you came.’ ” So he went anoth- drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to
er way and did not return by the way he came the tomb of your fathers.’ ”
to Bethel. 23 So it was, after he had eaten bread and
11 Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the don-
his sons came and told him all the works that key for him, the prophet whom he had
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the man of God had done that day in Bethel; brought back. When he was gone, a lion met
they also told their father the words which he him on the road and killed him. And his
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had spoken to the king. And their father said corpse was thrown on the road, and the don-
to them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons key stood by it. The lion also stood by the
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had seen which way the man of God went who corpse. And there, men passed by and saw
came from Judah. Then he said to his sons, the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion
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“Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled standing by the corpse. Then they went and
the donkey for him; and he rode on it, and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
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went after the man of God, and found him sit- 26 Now when the prophet who had brought
ting under an oak. Then he said to him, “Are him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is
you the man of God who came from Judah?” the man of God who was disobedient to the
And he said, “I am.” word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has
15 Then he said to him, “Come home with me delivered him to the lion, which has torn him
and eat bread.” and killed him, according to the word of the
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16 And he said, “I cannot return with you nor LORD which He spoke to him.” And he spoke
go in with you; neither can I eat bread nor to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for
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drink water with you in this place. For I have me.” So they saddled it. Then he went and
been told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall found his corpse thrown on the road, and the
not eat bread nor drink water there, nor donkey and the lion standing by the corpse.
return by going the way you came.’ ” The lion had not eaten the corpse nor torn the
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18 He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you donkey. And the prophet took up the corpse
are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and
the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to brought it back. So the old prophet came to
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your house, that he may eat bread and drink the city to mourn, and to bury him. Then he
water.’ ” (He was lying to him.) laid the corpse in his own tomb; and they
19 So he went back with him, and ate bread in mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”
his house, and drank water. 31 So it was, after he had buried him, that he
20 Now it happened, as they sat at the table, spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead,
that the word of the LORD came to the prophet then bury me in the tomb where the man of
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who had brought him back; and he cried out God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.
to the man of God who came from Judah, say- 32 For the saying which he cried out by the
ing, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel,
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