1 Kings 13:19
French (La Bible expliquée)
Le prophète de Juda l'accompagna pourtant à la maison, pour manger et boire quelque chose. Le recours à la magie et au merveilleux, avec leur côté archaïque, rend ce récit difficile à comprendre. Avant tout, il s'agit de condamner le culte institué par Jéroboam à Béthel, lequel perdurera jusque sous Josias, vers 622 (2 Rois 23.15-20). Ici, deux points de vue s'affrontent par le biais des deux prophètes: celui du Sud qui veut unifier et centraliser le culte à Jérusalem, en brisant l'autel concurrent, et celui du Nord qui refuse la centralisation du culte à Jérusalem et la situation de dépendance qu'elle implique. Le vieux prophète du Nord tend un piège à son collègue du Sud en le forçant à désobéir à la lettre même de la parole de Dieu (v. 9, 17-19). C'est par la ruse et le mensonge qu'il interrompt la mission destructrice de ce dernier et prétend annuler sa menace contre Béthel. Survient alors un lion qui tue le prophète du Sud, tout en épargnant son cadavre: il lui faut donc une sépulture (Deut 21.22-23; Tob 1.17-18). En le plaçant dans son propre tombeau, le vieux prophète s'assure une protection pour l'avenir, reconnaît finalement que son collègue du Sud avait raison et retarde du même coup la profanation définitive du sanctuaire de Béthel (v. 2, 31-32; 2 Rois 23.16-18). Quant au roi séparatiste, il est déjà jugé par la magie prophétique (v. 4) et par les rédacteurs (v. 33-34). Mêlant avec habileté l'astuce des hommes, le sacré (la superstition) et la providence divine, ce récit est l'un des plus étonnants de la Bible.
What Does This Mean?
This verse tells us that a man went back with another person and ate bread and drank water in his house. It shows that the man broke his own rule of not staying with anyone on his journey.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're on a mission, like cleaning up your room, and you promise not to stop for a snack. But then you meet a friend who offers you a cookie. You eat the cookie and break your promise. That's like what happened here in this story.
Historical Background
The book of 1 Kings was written by unknown authors around the 6th century BCE. It records the history of Israel and Judah, focusing on the kings and their reigns. This verse is part of a larger narrative about a prophet who disobeyed God's command not to eat or drink with anyone on his journey.
Living It Out Today
In modern terms, this can be seen as a reminder about following through with our commitments. For example, if you promise to finish a project without any breaks, it's important to stick to that promise to maintain integrity and trust.
Topics
obediencetemptationcommitmentconsequencesfaithfulnessjudgment
Related Verses
Judges 13:15-161 Samuel 15:22-23Matthew 15:3-91 Timothy 5:23James 1:22-25
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the prophet eat bread and drink water in the house?
The prophet was tempted and decided to break his own rule against eating or drinking with anyone, which led him to accept food and water at the house of another person.
What are the consequences of the prophet's actions?
The prophet's disobedience led to negative consequences, as indicated by subsequent verses, showing the importance of following God's commands.
How does this verse relate to the theme of obedience?
This verse highlights the theme of obedience by showing the consequences of not following God's instructions, even when it seems harmless.
What does this verse teach about making promises?
The verse teaches us that once we make a commitment, it's important to follow through with it, as breaking our word can lead to unforeseen consequences.