מלכים א, פרק י״ג, פסוק כ״א

A sudden and dramatic turn of events unfolds as a sharp divine message announces a severe punishment for disobedience. Surprisingly, the spirit of prophecy abruptly rests upon the older, false prophet. It is he who calls out to deliver God's word to the man of God [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רד״ק].

The core accusation against the man of God is that he acted out of rebellion and defiance against God's instruction [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He failed to properly keep the Commandment, as true observance requires strict adherence to all its conditions and boundaries. When faced with doubt, a person is obligated to take the stricter path rather than seeking leniency.

Ultimately, there is no room for the man of God to justify his actions. He cannot excuse his failure by claiming he simply trusted the words of the prophet from Bethel. A command heard directly from God cannot be overridden or canceled by another messenger or prophet. The only way a direct divine instruction can be revoked is if God Himself explicitly states the opposite [מלבי״ם].