3. You will know that the Lord has said these things when the altar splits in half, and the ashes on it fall to the ground.
4. Jeroboam pointed at the prophet and shouted, “Grab him!” But straight away, Jeroboam's hand became stiff, and he could not move it.
5. The altar split in half, and the ashes fell to the ground, just as the prophet had warned.
6. “Please pray to the Lord your God and ask him to heal my hand,” Jeroboam begged.The prophet prayed, and Jeroboam's hand was healed.
7. “Come home with me and eat something,” Jeroboam said. “I want to give you a gift for what you have done.”
8. “No, I wouldn't go with you, even if you offered me half of your kingdom. I won't eat or drink here either.
9. The Lord said I can't eat or drink anything and that I can't go home the same way I came.”
10. Then he started home down a different road.
11. At that time an old prophet lived in Bethel, and one of his sons told him what the prophet from Judah had said and done.
12. “Show me which way he went,” the old prophet said, and his sons pointed out the road.
13. “Put a saddle on my donkey,” he told them. After they did, he got on the donkey
14. and rode off to look for the prophet from Judah.The old prophet found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the prophet from Judah?”“Yes, I am.”
15. “Come home with me,” the old prophet said, “and have something to eat.”
16. “I can't go back with you,” the prophet replied, “and I can't eat or drink anything with you.
17. The Lord warned me not to eat or drink or to go home the same way I came.”