מלכים א, פרק י״ג, פסוק י״א

News of the dramatic miracles at the altar sends shockwaves through the area, eventually reaching the ears of an influential local figure. He is known as an old prophet living in Bethel, though he originally came from the region of Samaria [רש״י, רד״ק].

The exact nature of this old prophet is a matter of considerable debate. According to ancient tradition, he was actually a false prophet, with some identifying him as specific historical figures like Micah, Amaziah the priest of Bethel, Iddo, or Jonathan the son of Gershom [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. A middle ground suggests he was not a complete fraud, but rather a spiritually sensitive individual who never reached the true level of prophecy [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. On the other hand, a straightforward reading of the story implies he was a genuine, God-fearing prophet. This is supported by the fact that he is simply called a prophet rather than a prophet of Baal, and his subsequent actions demonstrate true righteousness [אברבנאל].

The news is brought to him by his children, who report two distinct aspects of the day's events. First, they detail the physical miracles that took place, including the sudden splitting of the altar and the paralysis and subsequent healing of the king's hand. Second, they report the specific words spoken at the scene, namely the prophecy of doom against the altar and God's strict command forbidding the man of God from returning by the same route he arrived [מלבי״ם].

The recounting of the story transitions from a single son arriving to share the news to multiple sons speaking together. The primary approach among commentators is that one son arrived first and began detailing the dramatic events. As he was speaking, his brothers arrived and joined in telling the story. Another perspective suggests that the sons divided the report between them: one son described the physical miracles that occurred at the altar, while another completed the account by sharing the specific prophetic words spoken to the king [רלב״ג].