Deuteronomy13

Deuteronomy 13 outlines strict laws against idolatry, emphasizing that anyone who promotes the worship of other gods must be put to death. This applies to false prophets, enticing family members or friends, and even entire cities that turn away from the LORD. The chapter stresses absolute loyalty to God and the severe consequences for apostasy, ensuring the removal of evil from Israel.

Warning Against False Prophets

1
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises in your midst you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ​
2
and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and let us serve them”;
3
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. ​
4
You shall walk after the LORD your God, fear him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cling to him.
5
That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall remove the evil from your midst. ​

Temptation from Family and Friends

6
If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,” which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; ​
7
of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth;
8
you shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him; ​
9
but you shall surely kill him. Your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. ​
10
You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
11
All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this in your midst.

Dealing with the Apostate City

12
If you shall hear about one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, that
13
certain base fellows have gone out from your midst, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,” which you have not known; ​
14
then you shall inquire, and make search, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done in your midst, ​
15
you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, with all that is therein and its livestock, with the edge of the sword.
16
You shall gather all its plunder into the midst of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, and all every bit of its plunder, to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. ​
17
Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers; ​
18
when you listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the LORD your God’s eyes.

Study Notes for Deuteronomy 13

Verse 1

This section addresses a specific test: a prophet whose predictions or signs actually come true, yet who uses that credibility to promote idolatry. This emphasizes that miraculous signs alone are not sufficient proof of divine origin.

Verse 3

Theological significance: God uses these false prophets to test the loyalty and faithfulness of Israel. Obedience, even when faced with compelling signs, is the ultimate measure of their love for Yahweh.

Verse 5

The punishment is capital because the false prophet seeks to sever the covenant relationship established when God redeemed Israel from Egypt. Putting the evil away ('burning out the evil') is a recurring Deuteronomic theme of maintaining purity in the community.

Verse 6

This scenario stresses the radical priority of covenant commitment over kinship ties. Even the most intimate relationships (spouse, child, best friend) must be disregarded if they threaten the nation's fidelity to God.

Verse 8

The stringent command to show no pity underscores the seriousness of idolatry as high treason against the divine King. The loyalty owed to God must override all natural human affection and sentiment.

Verse 9

The instruction that the witness must cast the first stone ensures accountability and confirms that the execution is carried out based on the law, not merely mob violence. In this context, the relative who was tempted becomes the necessary chief witness and executioner.

Verse 13

The phrase 'children of Belial' (Hebrew: *bĕnê beliya‘al*) means literally 'sons of worthlessness' or 'lawless men.' It refers to destructive individuals who actively incite the community to rebellion against God's law.

Verse 14

The law requires a thorough and diligent investigation before carrying out the extreme punishment of *herem* (utter destruction). The certainty of the crime must be established by multiple witnesses and careful judicial inquiry.

Verse 16

This prescribed destruction is the application of the *herem* law (devotion to destruction) against an Israelite city. Burning the city and all its goods ensures that nothing associated with the apostasy remains to contaminate the rest of Israel.

Verse 17

This verse links radical obedience (purging the cursed thing) directly to covenant blessing. By purifying the land, Israel removes the cause of divine wrath, allowing God to restore mercy and fulfill the promise of multiplication made to the patriarchs.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options