Deuteronomy 13:6-18

Don't Tolerate Idolatry

6 "If your brother, the son of your mother,[a] or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods'-which neither you nor your fathers have known,
7 any of the gods of the peoples around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other-
8 you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity,[b] and do not spare [him] or shield him.
9 Instead, you must kill him. Your hand is to be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.
10 Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
11 All Israel will hear and be afraid, and they will no longer do anything evil like this among you.
12 "If you hear it said about one of your cities the Lord your God is giving you to live in,
13 that wicked men have sprung up among you, led the inhabitants of their city astray, and said, 'Let us go and worship other gods,' which you have not known,
14 you are to inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. If the report turns out to be true that this detestable thing has happened among you,
15 you must strike down the inhabitants of that city with the sword. Completely destroy everyone in it as well as its livestock with the sword.
16 You are to gather all its spoil in the middle of the city square and completely burn up the city and all its spoil for the Lord your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever; it is not to be rebuilt.
17 Nothing set apart for destruction is to remain in your hand, so that the Lord will turn from His burning anger and grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers.
18 This [will occur] if you obey the Lord your God, keeping all His commands I am giving you today, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 13:6-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 13

In this chapter the Israelites are taught how to discern a false prophet, shun and punish him, De 13:1-5, what to do with enticers to idolatry, not only not to consent to them, but, without favour and affection to them, endeavour to bring them to just punishment, and be the first that should inflict it on them, De 13:6-11 and how to behave towards a city drawn into idolatry, as to inquire the truth of it; then make war against it; destroy all in it, men, women, children, and cattle; and burn the spoil of it, and suffer not anything at all belonging to it to cleave unto them, De 13:12-18.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. DSS, Sam, LXX read If the son of your father or the son of your mother
  • [b]. Lit Your eye must not pity him
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