The Man of God, the Old Prophet and the Word of the Lord: An Exegesis of 1 Kings 13

1 Kings 13 is a strange story with many plot reversals. This prophetic narrative has long confused readers and challenged interpreters. Questions abound about many aspects of the narrative, especially those related to its unity and theme. This dissertation addresses these problems through studying this text in three stages: first, in its pre-deuteronomistic form, second, in its setting within the Deuteronomistic History, and, finally, in its larger canonical context. The work of Uriel Simon is consulted in the pre-deuteronomistic stage. Robert L. Cohn's article and Gary N. Knoppers' monograph come into play in the deuteronomistic stage. In the canonical stage, Karl Barth's theological exegesis is explained and defended. After this progressive study, it is concluded that 1 Kings 13 is a united story with a single, expansive theme: the prevailing and enduring power of the Word of the LORD. Isaiah 40:8: 'The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.'