Deuteronomy 13:14

14 inquire thou busily, and when the truth of the thing is beholden diligently, if thou findest that this thing is certain, that is said, and that this abomination is done indeed, (carefully inquire thou, and when the truth of the thing is diligently seen, if thou findest that it is certain that this was said, and that this abomination was indeed done,)

Deuteronomy 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:14

Then shalt thou inquire, make search, and ask diligently
That is, of the witnesses, as the Targum of Jonathan; and this is a case that is only taken into consideration and judged of by the great sanhedrim, or that of seventy one, at Jerusalem ^F15; and the method they took was this, when it fell under their cognizance: the great sanhedrim send and inquire and search till they know clearly that the whole city, or the greater part of it, are thrust away, and are turned to idolatry; after that they send two disciples of the wise men to admonish them and bring them back; if they return and repent, it is well, but if they continue in their folly, the sanhedrim order all Israel to go up against them to war, and they besiege them, and set themselves in battle array against them, until the city be broken up; and when it is broken up, immediately they set up many courts of judicature, and they judge them; and against whomsoever two witnesses come that he served idols, after they have admonished him they separate him; if all the worshippers be the fewest, they stone them, and the rest of the city are delivered; if they are found the greater number, they bring them to the great sanhedrim, and finish their judgment there, and they slay all those that have served with the sword:

and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain;
that such wicked men have risen and have prevailed upon the inhabitants of the city where they live, to leave the worship of the true God, and go into idolatry, when there is full proof of this, and it is past all question that

such abomination is wrought among you;
as idolatry is, which is an abomination to God, and ought to be so to all mankind, and especially to a people that profess his name.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Maimon. Obede Cochabim, c. 4. sect. 3. 6.

Deuteronomy 13:14 In-Context

12 If thou hearest any men saying in one of thy cities, which thy Lord God shall give thee to dwell in,

13 The sons of Belial went out from the midst of thee, and turned away the dwellers of the city, and said, Go we, and serve alien gods, which ye knew not, (The sons of Belial went out from thy midst, and turned away that city's inhabitants, for they said, Let us go, and serve foreign, or other, gods, which ye knew not,)

14 inquire thou busily, and when the truth of the thing is beholden diligently, if thou findest that this thing is certain, that is said, and that this abomination is done indeed, (carefully inquire thou, and when the truth of the thing is diligently seen, if thou findest that it is certain that this was said, and that this abomination was indeed done,)

15 anon thou shalt smite the dwellers of that city with the sharpness of sword (at once thou shalt strike the inhabitants of that city with the sharpness of the sword), and thou shalt destroy that city, and all things that be therein, unto the beasts.

16 Also whatever thing of purtenance of household is found there, thou shalt gather it together in [the] midst of the streets thereof, and thou shalt burn it with that city, so that thou waste all things before thy Lord God, and it be a burial everlasting; it shall no more be builded. (And whatever thing of purtenance of household is found there, thou shalt gather it together in the middle of its streets, or in the town square, and thou shalt burn all those things along with that city, so that thou destroy all those things before the Lord thy God, and it shall be an everlasting burial; that city shall never be rebuilt.)