Bible Strands
1 Kings 13:23
And after the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet who had brought him back saddled the donkey for him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records a moment after the man of God has violated his direct command by eating and drinking in Bethel. The old prophet who deceived him now prepares the mount to transport the disobedient prophet back to his home city.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יַּחֲבָשׁ (va/i.ya.cha.vosh-) literally means "and he saddled," detailing the old prophet's final act of service. The noun הַ/חֲמ֔וֹר (ha./cha.Mor) identifies the specific donkey that will carry the man of God on his fatal journey.
The thread — The sequence of disobedience followed by a deceptive preparation for departure mirrors the structure in 1 Kings 13:22 where the divine warning is issued, and 1 Kings 13:24 where the lion intervenes on the road. The narrative uses this transitional action to bridge the prophet's violation and his immediate judgment.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that compliance with human deception does not nullify divine command, and that the final preparations before judgment are recorded without mitigation. It requires the reader to track the exact sequence of actions that precede the fulfillment of the stated warning.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.