Deuteronomy 13:1-14:29

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Here is, I. A very strange supposition, Deut. 13:1, 2. 1. It is strange that there should arise any among themselves, especially any pretending to vision and prophecy, who should instigate them to go and serve other gods. Was it possible that any who had so much knowledge of the methods of divine revelation as to be able to personate a prophet should yet have so little knowledge of the divine nature and will as to go himself and entice his neighbours after other gods? Could an Israelite ever... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1

If there arise among you a prophet ,.... A false prophet, a lying prophet, as the Targum of Jonathan; one that pretends to be a true prophet, and to be sent of God, and to come from him with a message from him, a new revelation or doctrine, or in his name, to foretell things to come; the former is chiefly meant. Such prophets did arise in Israel before the time of Christ, and have since arose under the Christian name; see 2 Peter 2:1 , or a dreamer of dreams ; the same with the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:1

If there arise among you a prophet - Any pretending to have a Divine influence, so as to be able perfectly to direct others in the way of salvation; or a dreamer of dreams - one who pretends that some deity has spoken to him in the night-season; and giveth thee a sign, אות oth , what appears to be a miraculous proof of his mission; or a wonder, מופת mopheth , some type or representation of what he wishes to bring you over to: as some have pretended to have received a consecrated... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 1 After having restrained the Israelites from the strange delusions of the Gentiles, Moses now forbids them from being too credulous if false teachers should arise from among themselves, and warns them diligently to beware of all novel inventions, and not to turn aside in the very least degree from the Law, at the instigation of any one. For there is peril to be apprehended, not only from professed and manifest enemies, or from foreign superstitions, but Satan plots also by means of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1

A prophet ( nabhi , נבָיִא ); one who speaks from God, an interpreter to men of what God reveals or suggests to him (of. for the meaning of the word, Exodus 7:1 with Exodus 4:16 ; also Jeremiah 15:19 ). Dreamer of dreams. Not by visions or immediate suggestion only, but also by means of dreams, did God communicate with men (cf. Numbers 12:6 ). The case supposed here, then, is that of one pretending to have had revelations from God through those media by which God was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-5

EXPOSITION IDOLATERS AND ENTICERS TO IDOLATRY TO BE PUT TO DEATH . The case supposed here is that of one professing to have supernatural intelligence, who should, by giving a sign or a wonder, endeavor to draw away the people to idolatry. Such a one was to be put to death. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-6

False prophets. In viewing the bearings of this passage on the credentials of revelation, two points should be observed. 1. The case supposed is one in which the prophet contradicts a revelation already received. 2. The prophet does not dispute the evidence of that earlier revelation. On the contrary, he admits it. He stands within the lines of it. He professes to speak under its authority. Yet he asks the people to violate its fundamental laws. This of itself was sufficient to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Temptations to depart from God to be resisted at all costs. In the preceding chapter we had directions with regard to the worship of the true God. Here Israel is told what to do in case of temptation arising to worship false gods. The chapter in its entirety deals with this one topic. From it we might open up two main homiletic themes: The second, however, we reserve till we come to Deuteronomy 18:21 . The first, therefore, only, we deal with now. In doing this we must remember that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

Idolatry to be treated as a capital crime. This chapter relates to the Israelites themselves. As the government was a theocracy, idolatry in any form was treason against the Divine King, and justly punishable with death. The previous chapter (verses 29-32) affords timely warning against sinful curiosity about heathen practices; and in this chapter the people are warned against all who would tempt them towards idolatry. The three cases mentioned are worthy of separate study. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:1-18

God's executioners upon idolaters. No respecter of persons is God. The sin of all sins is idolatry, and such overt rebels against the supreme God shall be summarily punished, whether they be Amorites or Hebrews. As a rule, complete retribution is reserved for the future state; the full effect of evil ways is not seen in this life. Yet there are sins so flagrant—so mischievous in their present influence, that God employs his agents, personal or impersonal, to execute his verdicts promptly... read more

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