Deuteronomy 18:11-21

11 cast spells, ask ghosts or spirits for help, or consult the dead.

12 Whoever does these things is disgusting to the LORD. The LORD your God is forcing these nations out of your way because of their disgusting practices.

13 You must have integrity [in dealing] with the LORD your God.

14 These nations you are forcing out listen to fortunetellers and to those who practice black magic. But the LORD your God won't let you do anything like that.

15 The LORD your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. You must listen to him.

16 This is what you asked the LORD your God to give you on the day of the assembly at Mount Horeb. You said, "We never want to hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this raging fire again. If we do, we'll die!"

17 The LORD told me, "What they've said is good.

18 So I will send them a prophet, an Israelite like you. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.

19 Whoever refuses to listen to the words that prophet speaks in my name will answer to me.

20 But any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I didn't command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die."

21 You may be wondering, "How can we recognize that the LORD didn't speak this message?"

Deuteronomy 18:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 18

This chapter gives an account of the provision made for the priests and Levites, with the reason of it, De 18:1-5, of allowance of a country Levite to minister at Jerusalem, and take his portion with the rest, De 18:6-8, and of several persons of bad practices not to be suffered among the people of Israel, De 18:9-14, and of an extraordinary prophet that should be raised up among them, to whom they should hearken, or it would be the worse for them, De 18:15-19, but a false prophet was to be put to death, of whom a sign is given by which he might be known, De 18:20-22.