Bible Chapter Summary
Deuteronomy 13 Summary
Warning Against Enticers to Idolatry
Deuteronomy 13 sets out three scenarios in which Israelites might be led into worshipping other gods: by a prophet or dreamer whose sign comes to pass but who urges following false gods; by a close family member or intimate friend who secretly entices to idolatry; and by "children of Belial" who have drawn an entire city into apostasy. In each case, Moses commands that the enticer or apostate city be put to death without pity—the false prophet by execution, the seducing relative by stoning with the accuser's hand first, and the corrupt city by complete destruction with the sword and fire. The LORD frames these tests as proofs of Israel's love and loyalty to Him, and warns that no spoil from a condemned city may be kept, so that His anger may turn and He may show compassion. Obedience to all His commandments is upheld as the condition for His continued mercy and the fulfillment of His sworn promises to the patriarchs.
Key themes
Key verses
Deuteronomy 13:3
“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.”
Deuteronomy 13:5
“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.”
Deuteronomy 13:9
“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.”
Deuteronomy 13:17
“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;”
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