Deuteronomy13
New Living Translation
1“Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles,
2and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before—
3do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.
4Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.
5The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the Lord your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.
6“Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend—and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known.
7They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth.
8But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them.
9You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in.
10Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery.
11Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again.
12“When you begin living in the towns the Lord your God is giving you, you may hear
13that scoundrels among you are leading their fellow citizens astray by saying, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods you have not known before.
14In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find that the report is true and such a detestable act has been committed among you,
15you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock.
16Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the open square and burn it. Burn the entire town as a burnt offering to the Lord your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt.
17Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a large nation, just as he swore to your ancestors.
18“The Lord your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Enticers to idolatry to be put to death. (1–5). Relations who entice to idolatry not to be spared. (6–11). Idolatrous cities not to be spared. (12–18).
vv1-5
Moses had cautioned against the peril that might arise from the Canaanites. Here he cautions against the rise of idolatry among themselves. It is needful for us to be well acquainted with the truths and precepts of the Bible; for we may expect to be proved by temptations of evil under the appearance of good, of error in the guise of truth; nor can any thing rightly oppose such temptations, but the plain, express testimony of God's word to the contrary. And it would be a proof of sincere affection for God, that, notwithstanding specious pretences, they should not be wrought upon the forsake God, and follow other gods to serve them.
vv6-11
It is the policy of Satan to try to lead us to evil by those whom we love, whom we least suspect of any ill design, and whom we are desirous to please, and apt to conform to. The enticement here is supposed to come from a brother or child, who are near by nature; from a wife or friend, who are near by choice, and are to us as our souls. But it is our duty to prefer God and religion, before the nearest and dearest friends we have in the world. We must not, to please our friends, break God's law. Thou shalt not consent to him, nor go with him, not for company, or curiosity, not to gain his affections. It is a general rule, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, Pr 1:10. And we must not hinder the course of God's justice.
vv12-18
Here is the case of a city revolting from the God of Israel, and serving other gods. The crime is supposed to be committed by one of the cities of Israel. Even when they were ordered to preserve their religion by force, yet they were not allowed to bring others to it by fire and sword. Spiritual judgments under the Christian dispensation are more terrible than the execution of criminals; we have not less cause than the Israelites had, to fear the Divine wrath. Let us then fear the spiritual idolatry of covetousness, and the love of worldly pleasure; and be careful not to countenance them in our families, by our example or by the education of our children. May the Lord write his law and truth in our hearts, there set up his throne, and shed abroad his love!
Key Words
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
אוֹ: desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
חָלַם: properly, to bind firmly, i.e. (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream
חֲלוֹם: a dream
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
קֶרֶב: properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אוֹת: a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.
מוֹפֵת: a miracle; by implication, a token or omen
Cross References
Deuteronomy 13Jesus warns that false Christs and false prophets will show great signs and wonders to deceive.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels God leading Israel to humble and prove them, to know what was in their heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God did tempt (prove) Abraham, testing his supreme love and obedience above his only son.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Warns not to trust a friend or guide, keeping the doors of thy mouth from her that lies in thy bosom.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Even if an angel or apostle preaches another gospel, they are to be accursed.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts a prophet whose sign fails with one whose sign succeeds but promotes idolatry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Command to fear, serve, and swear by Jehovah, quoted by Jesus against Satanic temptation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic parallel where parents must execute judgment on their own child who speaks lies in God's name.
Uses the identical idiomatic Hebrew phrase 'wife of thy bosom' to denote closest relation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Classic wisdom principle: if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Practical application of investigating a reported city-wide apostasy before engaging in war.
The immediate context preceding chapter 13, forbidding adding or diminishing from God's commands.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic deception using signs and miracles allowed by God to test and deceive the earth's inhabitants.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God sends strong delusion that they should believe a lie, testing those who rejected truth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Law requiring the hands of the witnesses to be first upon the condemned to put them to death.
Uses the term 'daughter of Belial', illustrating the lawless character described in Deuteronomy.
Supported by JFB
The warning to keep from the accursed (devoted) thing, lest Israel make their camp accursed.
Parallel purpose of public punishment: those who remain shall hear, and fear, and commit no such evil.