Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 13:9

9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD , saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water , nor turn again by the same way that thou camest .

My refusal of thy favour, is not from any contempt, or hatred of thy Person; but in obedience to the just Command of my God, who hath forbidden me all further Converse or Communication with thee.

To wit, in that place, or with that People. Whereby God declares, how detestable they were in Gods Eyes; not because their Idolatry was so bad as that of the Heathens, but because they were vile Apostates from the True God, and embraced this Idol-worship, against the light of their own Consciences, meerly to comply with the Kings humour and command: and because their vicinity and Relation to the Tribe of Iudah, made this more dangerous, as to their infection by it.

That by thy avoiding the way that led thee to Bethel as execrable, although thou wentest by my special Command, thou mightest teach all others, how much they should abhor that way, and all thoughts of going to that place, or to such people, upon any trivial and unnecessary occasion.