1 Kings 13:25, commentary and pictures

Men passing by saw the body cast in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. Passersby found the slain messenger lying in the way with the lion still standing by the carcass, and reported what they had seen to the people of that city. The man of God had turned back to eat and drink in Bethel contrary to the Lord's command after the old prophet deceived him into returning. The lion's attack that left the body in the road was the punishment that cost him his life, the visible consequence of that disobedience to God's command.

What they saw showed the pronounced judgment of death for disobedience swiftly executed and literally fulfilled. The death and its conspicuous aftermath further confirmed the truth of the warning and prophecy spoken over the altar. Had the disobedient prophet returned safely or gone on unharmed after disobeying, Jeroboam could have used that to defend and excuse his own disobedience. This was the third evidence given to the king, after the altar was rent and his arm was struck powerless. The prophet's fate warned Jeroboam of God's displeasure and should have led him to turn from evil and serve God.

The verse belongs to one of God's messages to backslidden Israel to lead them back to allegiance to Him and to stay the tide of apostasy. It is part of the long effort through prophets to give Israel every opportunity to return during years when rulers defied Heaven and led deeper into idolatry, showing that the kingdom was never left without noble witnesses to God's mighty power to save from sin. The history in 1 Kings 13:1-32 of a prophet who disobeyed God has been used to charge a later prophetic claim with being a deceived prophet, a charge answered by demanding what act of disobedience can be shown.