He was a devout young man from Judah, and he arrived at Bethel just as King Jeroboam was about to make a sacrifice at the alter of his golden calf. The man of God from Judah stood tall and addressed the altar. “Alter,” he said, “The priests that currently make offerings here will be sacrificed on you, and human bones will be burned on you.” “Furthermore, altar,” he added, “you’re about to split apart and ashes will pour out of you.”

When Jeroboam heard the man, he was incensed and commanded the guards to seize young man. But just as the king pointed at him, his hand withered, and suddenly the alter split apart and ashes spewed forth just as God’s prophet had predicted.
 

Instantly, Jeroboam realized that this man was truly holy and he pleaded with him to ask God to restore his hand. So the man said a little prayer and God restored Jeroboam’s hand.

Jeroboam was so impressed that he invited the young man back to the palace for a banquet where he said he would give the man a very nice gift. But with great earnestness, the man of God answered that even if the king offered him half of everything he had, he would not go with him because God had told him not to eat or drink anything until he returned to Judah. Jeroboam was disappointed but very impressed by the man’s faithfulness, so he allowed him to go on his way.

It was shortly after this that an old prophet from town learned of these amazing events.

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