Deuteronomy 13:15

_IF THOU SHALT HEAR SAY IN ONE OF THY CITIES, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HATH GIVEN THEE TO DWELL THERE, SAYING,_ Certain men, the children of Belial, х_ BªNEEY_ (H1121) _ BªLIYA`AL_ (H1100)]. "Belial," always moral worthlessness: "sons of Belial," they are wicked men-lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22; 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25), who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to idol-worship. [The Septuagint has: andres paranomoi, perverse men, transgressors of the law.] Verse 14. THEN SHALT THOU INQUIRE - i:e., the magistrate, to whom it officially belonged to m

15_Thou shalt surely smite. _Lest the severity of the punishment should occasion surprise, let us first observe that the error was unpardonable, because its authors, being educated in the doctrines of the Law, could not be deceived involuntarily, nor unless they had grown weary of religion, and set their hearts on the impostures of the devil. On this account God, in the Book of Jeremiah, in order to inveigh more heavily against the inconstancy of the Jews, refers them to distant isles and nations: “Passover (He says) and consider,” etc., “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this_, _” etc. (Jeremiah 2:10.) For justly must their instability be accounted monstrous, that they should have voluntarily forsaken the fountain of life, and have been carried away to v

12-18 Here is the case of a city revolting from the God of Israel, and serving other gods. The crime is supposed to be committed by one of the cities of Israel. Even when they were ordered to preserve their religion by force, yet they were not allowed to bring others to it by fire and sword. Spiritual judgments under the Christian dispensation are more terrible than the execution of criminals; we have not less cause than the Israelites had, to fear the Divine wrath. Let us then fear the spiritual idolatry of covetousness, and the love of worldly pleasure; and be careful not to countenance them in our families, by our example or by the education of our children. May the Lord write his law and truth in our hearts, there set up his throne, and shed abroad his love!...

Verse Deuteronomy 13:15. _THOU SHALT SURELY SMITE THE INHABITANTS_] If one city were permitted to practise idolatry, the evil would soon spread, therefore the contagion must be destroyed in its birth....

EXPOSITION IDOLATERS AND ENTICERS TO IDOLATRY TO BE PUT TO DEATH. DEUTERONOMY 13:1 The case supposed here is that of one professing to have supernatural intelligence, who should, by giving a sign or a wonder, endeavor to draw away the people to idolatry. Such a one was to be put to death. DEUTERONOMY 13:1 A PROPHET (_nabhi_,_ _נבָיִא); one who speaks from God, an interpreter to men of what God reveals or suggests to him (of. for the meaning of the word,...

THOU SHALT SURELY SMITE THE INHABITANTS OF THAT CITY WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD,.... This could not be the work of a single person, nor of the whole sanhedrim, but was what the whole nation was to join in, according to the above note: DESTROYING IT UTTERLY; pulling down the houses, and demolishing its walls and fortifications, or burning it, as afterwards explained: AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN; men, women, and children: AND THE CATTLE THEREOF, WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD; this severity was used to show the Lord's indignation against the sin of idolatry, and to deter persons from it, both individuals and bodies of men....

9. WARNINGS AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS AND THEIR PUNISHMENT CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The first case: The false prophet and dreamer (Deuteronomy 13:1)_ 2. The second case: Temptation to idolatry from blood-relations (Deuteronomy 13:6) 3. The third case: The apostasy of a city (Deuteronomy 13:12) Three cases are mentioned. The false prophet or a dreamer of dreams, who confirms his claims by a sign or a miracle, yet whose aim is to seduce to idolatry, is to be put to death. False teaching, which leads from God, is an abomination. It results finally in the most awful moral corruption. A false prophet may do signs and wonders to prove thereby that what he teaches is truth. Si

DEUTERONOMY 12:29 TO DEUTERONOMY 13:1. Yahwism must be kept free from all taint of Canaanite heathenism when Israel has entered Canaan. The danger would arise from the ancient belief that everyone should worship the god of the country in which he resides. D is an uncompromising Yahwist. DEUTERONOMY 12:32 TO DEUTERONOMY 13:18. Three classes of seducers to idolatry to be put to death. (_a)_ The false prophet (Deuteronomy 12:32 to...

DESTROYING. exterminating. Hebrew. _haram_. EDGE. Hebrew "mouth". Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Subject), App-6, for edge....

_VER._ 12-15. _IF THOU SHALT HEAR SAY IN ONE OF THY CITIES_— From the case of particular persons, Moses proceeds to that of whole cities; by which must be meant Israelitish cities, professing the true religion. _Children of Belial_ signify the most profligate and worthless: _Belial_ signifies, properly, one who is good for nothing, subject to no law, no _yoke;_ and so is a fit name for the devil, and all the sons of disobedience. See Judges 19:22. 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 10:27; 1 Samuel 17:25. The rabbis, not without reason, understand the present law thus: If the inquisitors found, upon due examination, that