Deuteronomy 13:12-18

12 If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in
13 that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known),
14 then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you,
15 you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely,[a] both its people and its livestock.
16 You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt,
17 and none of the condemned things[b] are to be found in your hands. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors—
18 because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.

Deuteronomy 13:12-18 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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. ver 2,6; Judges 19:22; Judges 20:13; 1 Samuel 2:12; 1 Samuel 10:27; 1 Samuel 11:12; 1 Samuel 25:17; 1 Kings 21:10; 1 John 2:19
  • 2. Judges 20:12
  • 3. Deuteronomy 17:4
  • 4. Isaiah 24:6; Isaiah 34:5; Isaiah 43:28; Isaiah 47:6; Lamentations 2:6; Daniel 9:11; Zechariah 8:13; Malachi 4:6
  • 5. Exodus 22:20
  • 6. 2 Kings 25:9; Jeremiah 39:8; Jeremiah 52:13; Ezekiel 16:41
  • 7. Deuteronomy 7:25,26; Joshua 6:24
  • 8. Joshua 8:28; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 17:1; Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 25:2; Isaiah 27:10; Isaiah 32:14,19; Isaiah 37:26; Jeremiah 49:2; Micah 1:6
  • 9. Exodus 32:12; Numbers 25:4
  • 10. S Genesis 43:14
  • 11. Deuteronomy 30:3
  • 12. S Deuteronomy 7:13
  • 13. S Genesis 12:2; S Genesis 13:14; S Genesis 26:24; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4,24; Genesis 28:14
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 12:25; Deuteronomy 12:25,28

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  • [b]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
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