Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Thy carcass shall not come - This intimated to him that he was to die an untimely death, but probably did not specify by what means.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

On the anxiety of the Hebrews to be buried with their fathers, see Genesis 47:30; Genesis 49:29, Genesis 49:1, Genesis 49:25; 2 Samuel 19:37, etc.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, eat no bread, nor drink no water,.... Which command he observed when first there, though invited by the king; and yet, after he had got out of the place, was prevailed upon to return and transgress the command:

thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers; signifying that he should die before he came to the land of Judah, and he should be buried in another place, and which was verified.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

Shall not, … — Thou shalt not die a natural, but a violent death; and that in this journey, before thou returnest to thy native habitation. But is it not strange that the lying prophet escapes, while the man of God is so severely punished? Certainly there must be a judgment to come, when these things shall be called over again, and when those who sinned most and suffered least in this world, will receive according to their works.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 13:22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which [the LORD] did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

Ver. 22. And hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, &c.] There is in the "Acts and Monuments of the Church," a memorable story of Bishop Ridley, who offering to preach before the Lady Mary, and being repulsed, he was brought by Sir Thomas Warton, her servant, to the dining place, and desired to drink: which after he had done, he paused a while, looking very sadly, and suddenly broke out into these words, Surely I have done amiss! Why so, quoth the knight? For I have drunk, said he, in that place where God’s word offered hath been refused: whereas if I had remembered my duty, I had departed immediately, shaking off the dust of my shoes for a testimony against this house. These words were by the said bishop spoken with such a vehemency, that some of the hearers afterwards confessed the hairs to stand upright on their heads. (a)

Thy carcass shall not come.] Thou shalt die ere thou come home. This was a gracious warning, that he might repent of his sin before he died.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

i.e. Thou shalt not die a natural, but a violent death; and that in this journey, before thou returnest to thy native habitation; and thy carcass shall not be buried in the proper sepulchre; which was esteemed a kind of curse, and a note of infamy; as the contrary was reckoned an honour and blessing. See 1 Kings 14:13 Isaiah 14:19,20 Jer 22:19 26:23.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22.Thy carcass shall not come — Thou shalt perish by a violent death on thy return, and thy body shall not be buried with thy kindred. Thou shalt not reach home alive or dead. “We read of no accusation or reply on the part of the seduced prophet, nor any excuse on the part of his seducer. The matter was too solemn for bandying words; and both understood where the real pinch of the matter lay.” — Kitto.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Fathers. This was a great punishment for the Hebrews, Genesis xlix. 29.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

sepulchre. Hebrew. keber, a burying-place.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

Thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. Here is an instance of his possessing the prophetic spirit, in that, addressing in the name of the Lord the man of God whom he brought back, he foretold the fate which was to follow as the punishment of his disobedience.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

eaten

of the

carcase

30; 14:13; 2 Chronicles 21:19,20; Isaiah 14:18-20; Jeremiah 22:18,19