I was talking with a friend yesterday about how Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament, is much more loving and kind than we give him credit for.

“Yes it’s true, but it’s hard to believe when you read the story of that prophet who got eaten by a lion just for listening to another prophet’s message”

So I said I’d look into it. Here’s my attempt….

1 Kings 13 is a crazy story. You really should read the whole thing, but here’s a summary if you’re already familiar with it:

A prophet rebuked Jeroboam, king of Israel, along with showing powerful signs that the word was from God. Jeroboam invited him home to eat, but the prophet had been commanded by God not to, so he left. Along the way he met a local prophet who claimed God was now OK with him eating there, so they had a meal together. But when he left he was killed by a lion for disobeying the original order. Then the lion just stood next to him for a long time, not eating him or his donkey.

What’s going on here? God seems deceptive and judgemental. The poor prophet! Let’s attempt to escape our modern western individualistic perspective and take a look at the bigger picture.

The Story is a Chiasm

A chiasm is a Hebrew literary structure that places the key idea at the center, with mirrored movements on either side. Like this:

• The man of God prophesies against the altar at Bethel (vv.1–3)
  • Jeroboam attempts to seize him (vv.4–6)
    • Jeroboam invites him to eat; he refuses (vv.7–10)
      • The local prophet goes to find him (v.11–14)
        • The local prophet lies, saying an angel reversed God’s word (vv.15–19)
      • The local prophet pronounces his judgement (vv.20–22)
    • The man of God dies for eating and drinking (vv.23–25)
  • The old prophet retrieves his body (vv.26–30)
• Jeroboam continues false worship at Bethel (vv.31–34)

The center—the lie—is what turns the whole story. Everything folds around the moment a prophetic word is reversed.

Eating Together was Covenantal

The man of God isn’t judged for turning back. He’s not condemned for listening. Judgment comes only after he eats.

“This is what the Lord says: You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.” (1 Kings 13:21–22)

In biblical culture, eating isn’t neutral. Table fellowship is covenant language. It means trust, loyalty, agreement. By eating in Bethel, the prophet re-enters communion with a system God had already rejected.

The Lion and the Donkey

When the prophet is killed, the lion and donkey stand beside his body. The lion doesn’t maul the corpse. The donkey doesn’t flee. Both animals just wait, like signs frozen in time.

They aren’t random. They’re the symbols of Judah’s tribal calling in Jacob’s final blessing:

“You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down… The scepter will not depart from Judah… He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch.” (Genesis 49:9–11)

The man of God is from Judah. He was supposed to call Israel back. But he listens to the second voice and shares the wrong table. Judah’s strength and humility—the lion and the donkey—are still present, but they’re no longer moving.

A Mirror of Jeroboam’s Story

The prophet’s failure echoes the king’s. Both men began with a clear word from God. Both reversed it. Both fell.

• Yahweh promises Jeroboam a lasting dynasty: “If you walk in obedience to me… I will build you a lasting house, as I did for David” (1 Kings 11:38).
  • Jeroboam fears losing power: “If these people go up to offer sacrifices… they will give their allegiance to Rehoboam” (1 Kings 12:26–27).
    • He creates a false worship system: “Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt… He built shrines on high places and appointed priests” (1 Kings 12:28–31).
  • A prophet condemns his rebellion: “You have done more evil than all who lived before you… you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me” (1 Kings 14:9).
• Jeroboam’s name becomes a symbol of sin: “Because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit” (1 Kings 14:16).

It’s a Prophetic Commentary

At the close of the chapter, the author tells us that Jeroboam’s other deeds are written in the official records of the kings. This is how most of the stories in the book of Kings end. It’s not just about the history, it’s the prophetic commentary on the history. The story is written to teach us something.

Fulfillment in Jesus

The lion and donkey appear again later—not in judgment, but in fulfillment. Jesus enters Jerusalem riding a donkey, as foretold by Zechariah:

“See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey…” (Zechariah 9:9)

And in Revelation, he is named the Lion of Judah:

“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” (Revelation 5:5)

The man of God in 1 Kings 13 dies because he couldn’t fulfill his calling to bring the message to the people. But Jesus from tribe of Judah, comes back to fulfill that original prophecy from Genesis 49.

Is the Story Crazy?

Yes, it still is. But looking at it prophetically, it’s also a warning about listening to anything that contradicts what God originally commanded.

From the man of God who died for listening, to King Jeroboam who’s whole family line was wiped out for building other altars, to the whole world eventually being judged for replacing the true God with religious counterfeits.

This story shows us how serious the consequences are if we listen to the second voice.