Deuteronomy 13:1-18

LESSON TEN Deuteronomy 12:29 to Deuteronomy 13:18; Deuteronomy 17:2-13

2. ONE GOD: DEATH PENALTIES FOR APOSTASY

(Deuteronomy 12:29 to Deuteronomy 13:18; Deuteronomy 17:2-13)

29 When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to dispossess them, and thou dispossessest them, and dwellest in their land; 30 take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto Jehovah thy God: for every abomination to Jehovah, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods.
32 What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, 2 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; 3 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that 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; 7 of the gods of the peoples that 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; 8 thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: 9 but thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.
12 If thou shalt hear tell concerning one of thy cities, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to dwell there, saying, 13 Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of thee, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; 14 then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of thee, 15 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. 16 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, unto Jehovah thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not be built again. 17 And there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy hand; that Jehovah may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; 18 when thou shalt hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 12:29-13:18

236.

After destroying idol worship why would anyone be ensnared in it?

237.

Are we to infer that these idolators had had opportunity to know the one true God and had steadfastly refused to worship Him? or that they were being slain in their ignorance?

238.

Are we to understand from Deuteronomy 12:2 that certain false prophets can perform a sign of wonder?

239.

Explain in your own words just how God tested some persons. Cf. Deuteronomy 12:3-4.

240.

Why not preach to some of these idolators?

241.

Specify what was so attractive in the worship of these other gods that some would be willing to risk their very lives for the worship of them.

242.

What lesson for love, hatred, right, wrong, are in the example of killing your own loved ones because of idolatry?

243.

If such stringent measures were taken by Israel, how often would they be repeated? As to the use of a preventive measure how could the fewest lives be lost and still preserve the worship of Jehovah?

244.

Please do enough research to discover the total procedure involved before passing the death penalty upon an individual or a city. Cf. Deuteronomy 17:2-7; Deuteronomy 19:15-19; Leviticus 24:10-14; Joshua 8:4-7.

245.

Are there lessons here for present-day church discipline? Cf. Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:3-4; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20.

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 12:29-13:18

29 When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and live in their land,
30 Be watchful that you are not ensnared into following them after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.
31 You shall not do so to the Lord your God; for every abominable thing which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burned in the fire of their gods.
32 Whatever I command you, be watchful to do it; you shall not add to it or diminish it.
If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder he foretells to you comes to pass, and if he says, 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 [mind and] heart and with your entire being.
4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and (reverently) fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and cling to Him.
5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has talked rebellion and turning away from the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage; that man has tried to draw you aside from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So shall you put the evil away from your midst.
6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own life, entice 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 round about you, near you or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other,
8 You shall not consent to him, or listen to him; nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him;
9 But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10 And you shall stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
11 And all Israel shall hear, (and reverently) fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this among you.
12 If you hear it said in one of your cities, which the Lord your God has given you in which to dwell,
13 That certain base fellows have gone out from your midst, and have enticed away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14 Then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you,
15 You shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all who are in it, and its beasts, with the edge of the sword.
16 And you shall collect all its spoil into the midst of its open square, and shall burn the city with fire, with every bit of its spoil [as a whole burnt offering] to the Lord your God; it shall be a heap [of ruins] for ever; it shall not be built again.
17 And nothing of the accursed 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 swore to your fathers,
18 If you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord your God.

COMMENT 12:29-13:18

Note that in these verses we have

(1)

Warnings against being seduced and ensnared into idolatrous practices (Deuteronomy 12:29-32)

(2)

Idolatrous prophets and dreamers to be slain (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

(3)

Idolatrous relatives and friends to be slain (Deuteronomy 13:6-11)

(4)

Idolatrous cities to be destroyed and their inhabitants slain (Deuteronomy 13:12-18)

Thus this entire section is concerned with cautions and warnings about being led away into idolatry.

INQUIRE NOT AFTER THEIR GODS, SAYING, HOW DO THESE NATIONS SERVE THEIR GODS? EVEN SO WILL I DO LIKEWISE (Deuteronomy 12:30)There is always a danger in the process of informing oneself of something that is evil. The motives (at first) may be ever so pureperhaps to gain information for the purpose of helping someone in a false religious system. But, all too often, there is a foggy and ethereal line between such a person's information and his own beliefs, What he knows he tends to believewhether right or wrong. We would not stifle an investigating spirit and an inquisitive mind. Only let that mind be first firmly established in Christ, and the motives for investigation be an ever more useful service to Christ, These inspiredbut with a sensual heart! Doubtless they wanted the lowdown on all the immoral and godless rites the heathen practicedso they could try their hand at it!

FOR EVEN THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS DO THEY BURN IN THE FIRE TO THEIR GODS (Deuteronomy 12:31)See also Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Psalms 106:34-37, Ezekiel 16:20-21. This was practiced in the worship of several gods in the areas surrounding Israel, especially Molech (Moloch, Milcom), Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:1-5; 2 Kings 23:10the national god of the Ammonites, and Chemosh, the national god of the Moabites, 1 Kings 11:7, Cf. 2 Kings 3:27; and apparently Baal, 2 Kings 17:16-17.

AND THE SIGN OR THE WONDER COME TO PASS (Deuteronomy 12:2)Note that whether the prediction of this Seer comes to pass or not is not the only criterion to be used to establish his identity as a true or false prophet. He is to be judged by the law of God per seclaims, proofs, and confirmations notwithstanding. A false prophet's predictions are not always wrongif they were, nobody would believe them! See Deuteronomy 18:9-22, notes. Paul certainly recognized the great influence of he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9).Other examples could be given, such as Jannes and Jambres (2 Timothy 3:8, Cf. Exodus 7:8-13; Exodus 7:20-22; Exodus 8:6-7). The question is not Did they perform a miracle? but Are they furthering and promoting the teachings and will of Christ? See 2 Corinthians 11:10-15, Matthew 7:15-23, 1 John 4:1. Someone might ask Why would God allow the false prophet's prophecy to be fulfilled? The next verse in our text provides the answer:

FOR JEHOVAH YOUR GOD PROVETH YOU (Deuteronomy 12:3)i.e., is testing or trying you (Heb. nasah, as in Deuteronomy 8:2). How many could learn from this truth in our present age if they would take it to heart! Why quibble and forever argue with these who saw some present day Simon giving out that he is some great one, and causing multitudes to cry out, This man is that power of God which is called Great (Acts 8:9-10)? If we are to prove the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world what means shall we use? To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them (Isaiah 8:20).

THAT PROPHET, OR THAT DREAMER OF DREAMS, SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH, BECAUSE HE HATH SPOKEN REBELLION (Deuteronomy 12:5)See also Deuteronomy 12:9, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 18:20-22. The Heb. word sarah (rebellion) is variously rendered. The A.V. has to turn you away. a rendering that Gesenius seemingly confirms by his definition, prop. a departing, withdrawing; hence (1) the violation of a law, an offence, Deuteronomy 19:16 [where it is rendered wrong doing]. (2) departure from Jehovah, Deuteronomy 13:6. Baumgartner has rebellion. obstinancy, and specifically incite rebellion against. As a deceiver, he was to be put to death.

IF THY BROTHER. SON. DAUGHTER. WIFE. FRIEND. ENTICE THEE SECRETLY. THOU SHALT SURELY KILL HIM (Deuteronomy 12:6-11)See also Deuteronomy 17:2-7. At least two witnesses were required, and death was to be by stoning. This command is obviously stated as it is because of the great temptation to be lenient and lax about carrying out God's law with regard to transgressors close and dear to them. Read Deuteronomy 12:8 again! Their enticement would be secretly, (Heb. sether) and doubtless subtle and plausible!

THY HAND SHALL BE FIRST UPON HIM (Deuteronomy 12:9)In executing the laws of Israel wherein someone was worthy of death, the accuser-witness was to be the first to lay his hands on the guilty party, and to cast the first stone. See Deuteronomy 17:7, Deuteronomy 19:15-19, Leviticus 24:10-14, and compare the wording of John 8:4-7.

This would tend to prevent off-hand, haphazard or flippant accusations. The accuser had to have the courage and strength of conviction to follow through with his charges. If not, he was not to make any charges. The principle involved could be well-received by many today.

We do not of course have any such death-penalty law in the Israel of God, the church of the Lord. However, the principle of the accuser-witness instigating the corrective action, is definitely taught by Christ: (Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:3-4; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20) not only if he realizes his brother has sinned, but if he realizes he has sinned against his brother (Matthew 5:23-26). The principle is, that if something is seen or realized as in need of correction or forgiveness, immediate action should be initiated toward that end.

THOU SHALT SURELY SMITE THE INHABITANTS OF THAT CITY (Deuteronomy 12:15)But not before a careful investigation was made (Deuteronomy 12:14). Note how it all began. Certain base fellows influenced the city like leaven, and a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Margin, Heb. sons of worthlessness, and expression meaning those totally worthless or devoted to worthless ends. Cf. sons of disobedience, Ephesians 2:2).