Deuteronomy 13
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Overview
Deuteronomy 13 is a crucial chapter that addresses the dangers of idolatry and the influence of false prophets within the Israelite community. Moses provides guidance on how to identify and deal with these threats to their covenant relationship with God. Key aspects include:
Test of False Prophets: Moses warns that if a prophet or dreamer arises and provides a sign or wonder that comes true, but then encourages the people to follow other gods, that prophet or dreamer must be put to death. This is a test from God to see whether the people truly love Him with all their heart and soul.
Enticement to Idolatry by Family Members: The chapter also covers the scenario where a family member secretly entices another to serve other gods. Moses commands that such a person must be stoned to death. This severe penalty reflects the seriousness with which idolatry is viewed, as it can lead the whole community away from God.
Destruction of Idolatrous Cities: If it's found that inhabitants of an Israelite city have been led astray to worship other gods, the entire city must be destroyed as a burnt offering to the LORD. None of the plunder is to be kept, and the city is never to be rebuilt. This drastic measure ensures the eradication of idolatry and serves as a warning to others.
Call to Obedience: Throughout the chapter, Moses emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s laws and commandments and not being led astray by false teachings or practices.
Promotion of Justice and Righteousness: The strict punishments for idolatry and the propagation of false teachings underscore a commitment to justice and righteousness within the community, in accordance with God’s laws.
Deuteronomy 13 is significant for its strong stance against idolatry and false prophecy, which were seen as direct threats to the integrity and purity of the Israelite faith. Moses’ directives aim to safeguard the community’s devotion to God, stressing the need for vigilance and adherence to the covenant. The chapter underscores the belief that loyalty to God and His commandments is fundamental to the well-being and survival of the Israelite nation.
Test of False Prophets: Moses warns that if a prophet or dreamer arises and provides a sign or wonder that comes true, but then encourages the people to follow other gods, that prophet or dreamer must be put to death. This is a test from God to see whether the people truly love Him with all their heart and soul.
Enticement to Idolatry by Family Members: The chapter also covers the scenario where a family member secretly entices another to serve other gods. Moses commands that such a person must be stoned to death. This severe penalty reflects the seriousness with which idolatry is viewed, as it can lead the whole community away from God.
Destruction of Idolatrous Cities: If it's found that inhabitants of an Israelite city have been led astray to worship other gods, the entire city must be destroyed as a burnt offering to the LORD. None of the plunder is to be kept, and the city is never to be rebuilt. This drastic measure ensures the eradication of idolatry and serves as a warning to others.
Call to Obedience: Throughout the chapter, Moses emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s laws and commandments and not being led astray by false teachings or practices.
Promotion of Justice and Righteousness: The strict punishments for idolatry and the propagation of false teachings underscore a commitment to justice and righteousness within the community, in accordance with God’s laws.
Deuteronomy 13 is significant for its strong stance against idolatry and false prophecy, which were seen as direct threats to the integrity and purity of the Israelite faith. Moses’ directives aim to safeguard the community’s devotion to God, stressing the need for vigilance and adherence to the covenant. The chapter underscores the belief that loyalty to God and His commandments is fundamental to the well-being and survival of the Israelite nation.
Deuteronomy 13
1Â If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2Â 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;
3Â Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4Â Ye shall walk after the LORD 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 to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away 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, which 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  Namely, of the gods of the people which 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;
8Â 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:
9Â But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10Â And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
11Â And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
12 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
13  Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
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.
16Â 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, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
17Â And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew 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 the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
End of Deuteronomy 13
1 Year Plan: Mar 19 - Deut 12, Deut 13,  Ps 32, Ps 33
2Â 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;
3Â Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4Â Ye shall walk after the LORD 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 to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away 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, which 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  Namely, of the gods of the people which 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;
8Â 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:
9Â But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10Â And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
11Â And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
12 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
13  Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
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.
16Â 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, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
17Â And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew 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 the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
End of Deuteronomy 13
1 Year Plan: Mar 19 - Deut 12, Deut 13,  Ps 32, Ps 33
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