Deuteronomy 13:1-14:29

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1

A prophet, or a dreamer of dreams - Compare Numbers 12:6. The “prophet” received his revelations by vision or direct oral communication Numbers 24:16; 2 Samuel 7:4; 2 Corinthians 12:2; “the dreamer of dreams” through the medium of a dream 1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 2:13. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 13:1

Deuteronomy 13:1. Moses, foreseeing how liable the Israelites, in after ages, would be to be deluded by false prophets, who, under pretence of divine revelations, or communications of divine power, while indeed they were assisted by no other than wicked and infernal spirits, might foretel some future events, or work some wondrous and unaccountable things as demonstrations of their false doctrine, and thereby persuade others to join in their idolatrous worship, here proceeds to show how such... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Warnings against idolatry (12:29-13:18)In Canaan the Israelites would meet many new temptations. Moses therefore warned them not to be curious about the religious practices of the former inhabitants, lest they copy them and corrupt their own religion (29-32). They were also to beware of the person who could apparently perform miracles and predict events. The test of the genuineness of the person was not whether his predictions came true, but whether he led people in the ways of God... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 13:1

If, &c. Beginning of Moses' fourth address. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1

In this chapter three situations are discussed, in each of which, Israel was ordered to put to death the offender.(1) First, there is the case of some alleged "prophet" soliciting the people to idolatry on the basis of some dream, portent, or wonder which he claimed as proof of his authority (Deuteronomy 13:1-5);(2) there is the case of solicitation to idolatry by one's close kinsman (Deuteronomy 13:6-12),(3) and then there is the case of a whole city that has fallen under the power of Satan... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1-4

Ver. 1-4. If there arise among you a prophet, &c.— The divinity of their religion, and its peculiar opposition to idolatry, having been fully shewn, Moses now proceeds to put the strongest case possible; acquainting them, that if any prophet or dreamer of dreams, any person pretending to supernatural inspiration, should give them a sign or a wonder, should predict or perform any thing extraordinary, and make that the ground of drawing them aside from the worship of their God to that of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1

1. If there arise among you a prophet—The special counsels which follow arose out of the general precept contained in :-; and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce others from the course of duty which that divine standard of faith and worship prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the seducer punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three cases of enticement to idolatry. a prophet—that is, some notable person laying claim to the character and... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Warnings against Temptations to IdolatryThe people are warned against three possible sources of temptation to idolatry, viz. the false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-5), an erring member of the family (Deuteronomy 13:6-11), and an apostate city (Deuteronomy 13:12-18). In each case the tempter or tempters must he put to death without mercy.2. A sign or a wonder is not enough to establish the credentials of a prophet. If he seeks to turn the people from the worship of Jehovah, he confesses himself... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 13:1

XIII.(1) If there arise.—Three cases of instigation to idolatry are considered in this chapter:—1. The false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).2. A private individual (Deuteronomy 13:6-11).3. A city (Deuteronomy 13:12-18).In every case the penalty is the same—death without mercy.Is this law the production of a later age? It may be said to have been more often broken than observed.But there are instances in the history of Israel which seem to require some such law as this in all its three sections.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

LAWS AGAINST IDOLATROUS ACTS AND CUSTOMSDeuteronomy 13:1-18; Deuteronomy 14:1-29HAVING thus set forth the law which was to crown and complete the long resistance of faithful Israel to idolatry, our author goes on to prohibit and to decree punishment for any action likely to lead to the worship of false gods. He absolutely forbids any inquiry into the religions of the Canaanites. "Take heed to thyself that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so... read more

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