Deuteronomy 13

De 13:1-5.

ENTICERS TO

IDOLATRY TO

BE

PUT TO

DEATH.

1. If there arise among you a prophet--The special counsels which

follow arose out of the general precept contained in

De 12:32;

and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce others from

the course of duty which that divine standard of faith and worship

prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the seducer

punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three cases of

enticement to idolatry.

a prophet--that is, some notable person laying claim to the character

and authority of the prophetic office

(Nu 12:6;

1Sa 10:6),

performing feats of dexterity or power in support of his pretensions,

or even predicting events which occurred as he foretold; as, for

instance, an eclipse which a knowledge of natural science might enable

him to anticipate (or, as Caiaphas,

Joh 18:14).

Should the aim of such a one be to seduce the people from the worship

of the true God, he is an impostor and must be put to death. No

prodigy, however wonderful, no human authority, however great, should

be allowed to shake their belief in the divine character and truth of a

religion so solemnly taught and so awfully attested (compare

Ga 1:8).

The modern Jews appeal to this passage as justifying their rejection of

Jesus Christ. But He possessed all the characteristics of a true

prophet, and He was so far from alienating the people from God and His

worship that the grand object of His ministry was to lead to a purer,

more spiritual and perfect observance of the law.

De 13:6-18.

WITHOUT

REGARD TO

NEARNESS OF

RELATION.

6. If thy brother . . . entice thee secretly--This term being applied

very loosely in all Eastern countries

(Ge 20:13),

other expressions are added to intimate that no degree of kindred,

however intimate, should be allowed to screen an enticer to idolatry,

to conceal his crime, or protect his person. Piety and duty must

overcome affection or compassion, and an accusation must be lodged

before a magistrate.

9. thou shalt surely kill him--not hastily, or in a private manner, but

after trial and conviction; and his relative, as informer, was to cast

the first stone

(see on

De 17:2;

Ac 7:58).

It is manifest that what was done in secret could not be legally proved

in some private part of the house, to hear the conversation and watch

the conduct of a person suspected of idolatrous tendencies.

12-18. Certain men, the children of Belial--lawless, designing

demagogues

(Jud 19:22;

1Sa 1:16; 25:25),

who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to

idol-worship.

14. Then shalt thou inquire--that is, the magistrate, to whom it

officially belonged to make the necessary investigation. In the event

of the report proving true, the most summary proceedings were to be

commenced against the apostate inhabitants. The law in this chapter has

been represented as stern and sanguinary, but it was in accordance with

the national constitution of Israel. God being their King, idolatry was

treason, and a city turned to idols put itself into a state, and

incurred the punishment, of rebellion.

16. it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again--Its

ruins shall be a permanent monument of the divine justice, and a beacon

for the warning and terror of posterity.

17. there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand--No

spoil shall be taken from a city thus solemnly devoted to destruction.

Every living creature must be put to the sword--everything belonging to

it reduced to ashes--that nothing but its infamy may remain.