Deuteronomy 13:17

_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

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 13:17. _AND THERE SHALL CLEAVE NAUGHT OF THE CURSED THING_] As God did not permit them to take the spoils of these idolatrous cities, they could be under no temptation to make war upon them. It could only be done through a merely religious motive, in obedience to the command of God, as they could have no profit by the subversion of such places. How few religious wars would there ever have been in the world had they been regulated by this principle: "Thou shalt neither extend thy territory, nor take any spoils!...

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,...

AND THERE SHALL CLEAVE NOUGHT OF THE CURSED THING TO THINE HAND,.... That is, they might not take anything whatever to their own use; for all being devoted to destruction, was cursed, and brought a curse upon the man that should make it his own property, as Achan did, when Jericho was destroyed: THAT THE LORD MAY TURN FROM THE FIERCENESS OF HIS ANGER; stirred up by the idolatry of the city: AND SHOW THEE MERCY, AND HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE; who, seeing wrath gone forth, might dread the consequences, lest it should spread itself further: AND MULTIPLY THEE, AS HE HATH SWORN TO THY FATHERS; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; this is observed to encourage them to execute his orders punctually in the destruction of the idolatrous city; since God could and would multiply them, as he had promised their fathers, with an oath, so that they should not be the fewer by such an instance of his severity....

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...

CURSED. devoted [to destruction]. Compare Joshua 6:18; Joshua 7:1. AS. according as....

_VER._ 17. _THERE SHALL CLEAVE NOUGHT OF THE CURSED THING TO THINE HAND_— Nothing could be more wisely appointed than this law, which served at once to create in them the greatest abhorrence of idolatry, and at the same time prevented any temptations to destroy an innocent city for the sake of plunder. After such severe and strict laws for the extirpation of idolatry, one cannot help being astonished at the absurdity of Voltaire's attempt to prove that idolatry was tolerated among the Jews. _THAT THE LORD MAY—MULTIPLY THEE_— As if he had said, "Fear not that the total destruction of a great city will prejudice your commonwealth; for the Lord, in consequence of your obedience to his commands, will give you other citizens, and those in great abundance." With respect to the punishment denounced in this chapter, it was necessary; for nothing was more important than to prevent a crime which s...

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