The Man of God from Judah: Jeroboam stands, like Solomon (1 Kgs. 8:22), at the altar of his new temple, ready to dedicate it to his gods. He does not, however, get his chance to speak, for this temple has no legitimacy. And so, as Solomon’s temple was built in fulfillment of a prophetic promise about both temple and dynasty (2 Sam. 7:1–17), the building of Jeroboam’s temple evokes prophetic threats (1 Kgs. 13:2–3; 14:7–13), which in due course will come to fulfillment in the destruction of both dynasty and temple. The LORD is the God of history, whose word must be obeyed—even by the very prophets who deliver it—if blessing is to follow (13:11–32).

13:1–6 Jeroboam had been promised a dynasty as enduring as David’s, if only he would obey God (1 Kgs. 11:38). He had not, however, been promised …