Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 13:28
And he went and found his carcass cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass: the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass.
The lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass – These strange circumstances were of a nature to call mens 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ 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!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Here was a concurrence of miracles: That the ass did not run away from the lion, according to his nature and custom, but boldly stood still, as reserving himself for the carrying of the prophet to his burial; that the lion did not devour its prey, as the manner is; nor yet go away when he had done his work which he was sent for, but stood still; partly, to preserve the carcass of the prophet from other wild beasts or fowls, which would quickly have eaten it; partly, as an evidence that the prophets death was not casual, nor the effect of a lions hungry and ravenous disposition, but of Gods singular and just judgment; and consequently, that this prediction was Divine, and should be infallibly accomplished in its proper time; and partly, as a token of Gods favour to the deceased prophet, of whose very carcas: he took such special care; thereby signifying, that although for wise and just reasons he thought fit to take away his life, yet his remains were precious to him, and his soul did live in his sight.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
28. The lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass Herein was signally manifest the punitive hand of God. The ass is choice food for a lion, and man he attacks not when he has other prey. He also is wont to tear and mangle his prey. But in this case the lion, seeming to know that he had a signal mission, acted contrary to the instincts of his nature, and stopped when his work was done. These facts, attested by sufficient witnesses, (compare 1Ki 13:25,) made the solemn lessons of the prophet’s disobedience and death all the more impressive.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 13:28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
Ver. 28. And found his carcass. ] See on 1Ki 13:24 .
Nor torn the ass.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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. 1Ki 17:4, 1Ki 17:6, Lev 10:2, Lev 10:5, Job 38:11, Psa 148:7, Psa 148:8, Jer 5:22, Jer 5:23, Dan 3:22, Dan 3:27, Dan 3:28, Dan 6:22-24, Act 16:26, Heb 11:33, Heb 11:34
torn: Heb. broken
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 13:28. He found, &c. Here was a concurrence of miracles: that the ass did not run away from the lion, according to his nature, but boldly stood still, as waiting to carry the prophet to his burial; that the lion did not devour his prey, nor tear the ass, nor meddle with the travellers that passed by, nor hurt the old prophet, when he came to the spot, nor his ass; nor yet go away, when he had done his work, but stood still, as if, 1st, To preserve the carcass of the prophet, whom he had slain, from other wild beasts or fowls: 2d, As an evidence that the prophets death was not casual, nor the effect of a lions ravenous disposition, but of Gods singular and just judgment, who had directed the lion, by a supernatural power, how far to go, and where to stop; and, consequently, that the prophets prediction was divine, and would be infallibly accomplished in its proper time: and 3d, As a token of Gods favour to the deceased prophet, of whose very carcass he took such special care; thereby signifying, that, although for wise and just reasons he thought fit to take away his life, yet his remains were precious to him.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:28 And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had {l} not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
(l) To declare that this was only the judgment of God: for if the lion had done it for hunger, he would also have devoured the body.