Deuteronomy 13:7-17

7 from [among] the gods of the people who are around you, {those near you or those far from you}, from [one] end of the earth and up to the [other] end of the earth,
8 you must not give in to him, and you shall not listen to him, and your eye shall not take pity on him, and you shall not have compassion, and you shall not cover [up] for him.
9 But you shall certainly kill him; your hand shall be first against him to kill him and next the hand of all [of] the people.
10 And you shall stone him with stones and let him die, for he tried to seduce you from Yahweh your God, the [one] bringing you from [the] land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.
11 And all [of] Israel shall hear, and they shall fear, and {they shall not continue to act} according to this evil thing in your midst.
12 "If you hear in one of your towns which Yahweh your God [is] giving to you to live in, [someone] {saying that}
13 {worthless men} have gone out from your midst and have seduced the inhabitants of their town, {saying}, 'Let us go and serve other gods!' whom you have not known,
14 then you shall inquire and examine and interrogate thoroughly, and, look! [It is] true; the thing has actually been done, this detestable thing in your midst,
15 [then] you shall certainly strike down the inhabitants of that town with the {edge} of [the] sword; you shall destroy it and everything in it, its domestic animals with [the] {edge} of [the] sword.
16 And [then] you shall gather all of its booty into the middle of its public square, and you shall burn the town and all [of] its war-booty totally for Yahweh your God, and it shall be {a pile of rubble forever}; it shall not be built again.
17 And let not something cling to your hand from the things devoted to destruction, so that Yahweh may turn back {from his burning anger}, and he may show compassion to you and he may [continue] to show compassion and [so] multiply you {just as he swore} to your ancestors,

Deuteronomy 13:7-17 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 12

  • [a]. Literally "the near ones to you or the distant ones from you"
  • [b]. Or "conceal" him
  • [c]. Literally "they shall not add to do"
  • [d]. Literally "to say"
  • [e]. Literally "sons of Belial"
  • [f]. Literally "to say"
  • [g]. Literally "mouth"
  • [h]. Literally "mouth"
  • [i]. Literally "a tell/ruin forever"
  • [j]. Literally "from the burning of his nose"
  • [k]. Literally "as that he swore"
  • [l]. Or "fathers"
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