1 Kings 13:28

Contextual Overview

²³So after he had eaten food and after he had drunk, the old prophet saddled the donkey for the prophet he had brought back. ²³ It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the donkey, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back. ²³ 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. ²³ And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. ²³ After the man of God finished eating and drinking, the prophet put a saddle on his donkey for him, and the man left. ²³ When the prophet from Judah finished his meal, the old prophet saddled his visitor's donkey for him. ²³After the prophet of the house had eaten bread and after he had drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. ²³ It came about after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back. ²³ And when he had eaten bread & drunke, he sadled him the asse, to wit, to the Prophet whome he had brought againe. ²³Now it happened after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the lion had: All here was supernatural. The lion, though he had killed the man, yet, contrary to his nature, did not devour him, nor tear the ass, nor meddle with the travellers that passed by; while the ass stood quietly by, not fearing the lion, nor betaking himself to flight: both stood as guardians of the fallen prophet, till this extraordinary intelligence was carried into the city which rendered the miracle the more illustrious and plainly shewed that this event did not happen by chance. This concatenation of miracles marked the death of the man of God as a Divine rebuke for his disobedience in eating bread at idolatrous Beth-el; and here we see, as in various other cases, that "often judgment begins at the house of God." The true prophet, for suffering himself to be seduced by the old prophet, and for receiving that as a revelation from God which was opposed to the revelation which himself had received, and which was confirmed by so many miracles, is slain by a lion, and his body deprived of the burial of his fathers; while the wicked king and the fallen prophet are both permitted to live. 1 Kings 17:4, 1 Kings 17:6, Leviticus 10:2, Leviticus 10:5, Job 38:11, Psalms 148:7, Psalms 148:8, Jeremiah 5:22, Jeremiah 5:23, Daniel 3:22, Daniel 3:27, Daniel 3:28, Daniel 6:22-24, Acts 16:26, Hebrews 11:33, Hebrews 11:34

torn: Heb. broken

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he went and found his carcass cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass,.... As before described:

the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass; both which were very marvellous; as also that the ass should stand so quietly, and without fear, by the carcass along with the lion and not run away; but here both stayed till the prophet came to take care of the carcass, which shows the singular providence of God in this affair; and that though he chastised the man of God with a temporal judgment for his offence, yet he was dear to him, and even his carcass precious in his sight.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass - These strange circumstances were of a nature to call men’s attention to the matter, and cause the whole story to be bruited abroad. By these means an incident, which Jeroboam would have wished hushed up, became no doubt the common talk of the whole people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 28. The lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass. — All here was preternatural. The lion, though he had killed the man, does not devour him; the ass stands quietly by, not fearing the lion; and the lion does not attempt to tear the ass: both stand as guardians of the fallen prophet. How evident is the hand of God in all!