Deuteronomy 13

CHAPTER 13

Worshiping Other Gods (13:1–18)

1–5 This chapter deals with violations of the first of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:3 and comment). Three instances are cited wherein Israelites might be enticed into worshiping false gods.

The first concerned false prophets who attempted to persuade people to follow other gods. Some of these so-called prophets would announce in advance that a particular event was going to take place, and when it did (either with their foreknowledge or by coincidence) they would claim this was proof that they were true prophets and should be believed.⁴⁰ But the fact that they were leading people away from the true God proved instead that they were false prophets and deserving of death (verse 5).

6–11 Even a close friend or relative who attempted to entice someone to follow a false god had to be put to death. The penalty may seem severe to us, but we must remember the severity of the offense in God’s sight. Furthermore, the fear of punishment does in fact deter sinful behavior,⁴¹ and therefore a severe penalty is beneficial to those who might otherwise have been tempted to sin.

Even when the enticement to follow a false god was carried out secretly (verse 6), the guilty party had to be exposed (verse 8). To hide such a sin would be a sin itself and invite serious consequences (see Leviticus 20:4–5). The death penalty was to be carried out by stoning, the usual method of execution in ancient Israel (Leviticus 20:2,27; 24:14). In such cases, the person bringing the charge was required to cast the first stone (verse 9).

12–18 In these verses, a third instance is cited in which an entire town is enticed by wicked men to follow false gods. If after a thorough investigation it was confirmed that such a thing had indeed happened, then that town and all its inhabitants including the livestock were to be destroyed completely (Deuteronomy 7:2) and “devoted” to the Lord as a “burnt offering”⁴² (verses 15–16). Those valuable objects that survived the fire were to be handed over for the Lord’s use; the Israelites were to take nothing for themselves (verse 17).

Sadly, in spite of Moses’ warnings and the severe punishments demanded for those who led people astray, the Israelites kept falling into the sin of worshiping other gods.⁴³ One problem in later years was that Israel’s leaders became corrupt and did not enforce these laws or carry out these punishments. When leaders cease to obey the law, the people are quick to follow their example.⁴⁴