The Man of God Speaks Against Bethel

13 ·The Lord commanded [^LBy the word of the Lord] a man of God from Judah ·to go [went up] to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing by the altar to ·offer a sacrifice [burn incense]. ² ·The Lord had commanded [^LBy the word of the Lord] the man of God ·to speak [spoke] against the altar. The man said, “Altar, altar, the Lord says to you: ‘David’s ·family [^Lhouse] will ·have [have born] a son named Josiah. The priests ·for the places of worship [^Lof the high places; 3:2] now ·make their sacrifices [burn incense] on you, but Josiah will sacrifice those priests on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’” ³ That same day the man of God gave ·proof [a sign] that these things would happen. “This is the Lord’s sign that this will happen,” he said. “This altar will break apart, and the ashes on it will ·fall to the ground [spill; be poured out; 2 Kin. 23:15–16].”