Deuteronomy 18:9-22

Concerning the Prophet. The Israelites are to consult Yahweh through His accredited messenger the prophet, and not through diviners who seek oracles by heathen methods. There is no parallel law in JE because about 800 B.C. and earlier the religious community was simple and undifferentiated: nor in P, where the priest is everything. For the several technical terms in Deuteronomy 18:10 f. (all denoting diviners of various kinds), see EBi. 1117, 2895, and especially later and longer articles on Divination and Magic in International Standard Bible Encyclopæ dia.

Deuteronomy 18:10. maketh. fire, etc.: read (with Geiger) that burneth. in the fire (transposing two consonants). The reference is to child-sacrifice (common among the Phœ nicians, etc.) practised as a means of obtaining an oracle.

Deuteronomy 18:15. Contains no primary reference to the Messiah, though the words naturally suggest to Christian readers the Great Prophet (Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37).

Deuteronomy 18:15 a. prophet: i.e. a succession of prophets.

Deuteronomy 18:18. The true prophet utters what comes to pass. Yet the false prophet may do the same (Deuteronomy 13:2 *). The Heb. prophet is, however, one who speaks as Yahweh directs (the Heb. word means one inspired, lit. one made to bubble up), though his message may have reference to the future, especially in an ethical sense.