Deuteronomy 13:2-3 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 13:2

The Lord had said, “Thou shalt have none other gods but Me.” A prophet is here supposed who invites the people “to go after other gods.” To such a one no credit is under any circumstances to be given, even should he show signs and wonders to authenticate his doctrine. The standing rule of faith and practice had been laid down once for all - that the people were to hold fast. The prophet who propounded another rule could only be an impostor.A different case is considered in Deuteronomy 18:18,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 13:2-3

Deuteronomy 13:2-3. And the sign or wonder come to pass God permitting Satan or his agents to do what is above the ordinary course of nature for thy trial. Saying, Let us go after other gods That is, who, upon the sign’s coming to pass which he gave thee to confirm his doctrine, would persuade thee to go after other gods. Thou shalt not hearken unto that prophet Shalt not receive his doctrine; but, though the event confirm the prediction, thou shalt look upon him as a liar, and teacher... 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 13:3

proveth: i.e. suffereth you to be proved. Hebrew idiom, which speaks of doing what one allows to be done. your soul = yourself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . 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

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

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

9. Warnings Against False Prophets and Their Punishment CHAPTER 13 1. The first case: The false prophet and dreamer (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ) 2. The second case: Temptation to idolatry from blood-relations (Deuteronomy 13:6-11 ) 3. The third case: The apostasy of a city (Deuteronomy 13:12-18 ) Three cases are mentioned. The false prophet or a dreamer of dreams, who confirms his claims by a sign or a miracle, yet whose aim is to seduce to idolatry, is to be put to death. False teaching,... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Deuteronomy 13:2

13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, {b} Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;(b) He shows that to which the false prophets tend. read more