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.
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
¶ If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
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.
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The Calling of Disciples
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
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