The judgment of the Lord upon the man of God of Judah through the old prophet
with a lion was executed in a terrible but also a surprising manner. It is terrible in that the disobedient prophet was met and killed by a lion, which was most probably a very painful death. The surprising part is seen in the behaviour of the lion after it had killed the man of God. Its rage seems to have evaporated, for the lion, instead of eating the body, stood beside it. This behaviour accomplished two things. First, the lion guarded the body from any further violation. Second, and more importantly, the lion remaining by the body made it clear to all passersby that Yahweh had judged his disobedient service, and if he sent judgment upon the man of God, he would be sure to bring about in time the judgment that the man of God pronounced against the idolatrous priests of Bethel.
24 And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body.