Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Alas, my brothers - This lamentation is very simple, very short, and very pathetic. Perhaps the old prophet said it as much in reference to himself, who had been the cause of his untimely death, as in reference to the man of God, whose corpse he now committed to the tomb. But the words may be no more than the burden of each line of the lamentation which was used on this occasion. See instances of this among the Asiatics in the note on Jeremiah 22:18; (note).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

He laid his carcase in his own grave - As Joseph of Arimathaea did the body of our Lord Matthew 27:60. The possession of rock-hewn tombs by families, or individuals, was common among the Jews from their first entrance into the holy land to their final expulsion. A sepulchre usually consisted of an underground apartment, into which opened a number of long, narrow “loculi,” or cells, placed side by side, each adapted to receive one body. The cells were 6 or 7 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet high. They were commonly closed by a stone placed at the end of each. Many such tombs still exist in Palestine.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he laid his carcass in his own grave,.... Which he had prepared for himself; for, as he came from Samaria, it could not be the sepulchre of his fathers; and this was showing all the respect, and doing all the honour to him, he well could:

and they mourned over him; the prophet and his sons: saying,

alas, my brother; which was an usual form of lamentation at funerals in later times, see Jeremiah 22:18.

Geneva Study Bible

(m) Which he had prepared for himself.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!

His grave — So that threatening, verse22, was fulfilled; and withal, the memory of his prophecy was revived and preserved among them, and his very carcase resting there, might be a witness of their madness and desperate wickedness, in continuing in their abominable idolatry, after such an assurance of the dreadful effects of it.

They — The old prophet and his sons, and others, whom common humanity taught to lament the untimely death of so worthy a person.

Alas, … — Which was an usual form of expression in funeral-lamentations.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 13:30 And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother!

Ver. 30. In his own grave.] Which was ready made, it seems. See the like, Matthew 27:60. Charles V carried the materials of his tomb with him up and down in his warlike expeditions.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

So that threatening, 1 Kings 13:22, was fulfilled; and withal, the memory of his prophecy was revived and preserved among them, and his very carcass resting there might be a witness of their madness and desperate wickedness, in continuing their abominable idolatry after such an assurance of the dreadful effects of it.

They mourned over him; the old prophet, and his sons, and others, whom common humanity taught to lament the untimely death of so worthy a person.

Alas, my brother! was a usual form of expression in funeral lamentations. See Jeremiah 22:18.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

30.Alas, my brother — His mourning doubtless came from the depths of his heart. The mere facts of the intercourse of these two prophets are profoundly impressive. The old prophet of Beth-el could not but think that he had been instrumental in his brother’s fall.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Brother. Such titles were customary, Jeremias xxii. 18. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

grave = sepulchre. Hebrew. keber, a burying-place, a pit. Compare App-35.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

mourned over

14:13; Jeremiah 22:18; Acts 8:2