by jimwalton » Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:24 pm
Some prophets were king-makers, some were king-breakers. The latter is what's going on here. This anonymous prophet is bringing a word of judgment against the godless king, Jeroboam. Jeroboam decided on his own to eschew the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and build his own temple and altar at Bethel.
The prophet cried out against the altar in prophetic agony and curse. The repetition of the word "altar" emphasizes the reason for the denouncement. 300 years after this prophecy was spoken, a king named Josiah reigned in Judah (2 Ki. 23.15-16), destroyed this altar and intentionally defiled it by burning human remains on it so it would never be used again.
Last bumped by Anonymous on Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:24 pm.