Deuteronomy 13:12-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12-18

Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods. I. The crime is supposed to be committed, 1. By one of the cities of Israel, that lay within the jurisdiction of their courts. The church then judged those only that were within, 1 Cor. 5:12, 13. And, even when they were ordered to preserve their religion in the first principles of it by fire and sword to propagate it. Those that are born within the allegiance of a prince, if they take up... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12

If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities ,.... A report concerning them, anyone of them: which the Lord thy God had given thee to dwell there ; which he had not only given them, but had put them into the possession of, and it was become their dwelling place, or was inhabited by Israelites; otherwise they were already given unto them, but did not inherit and inhabit them, and it might be possible that there might be some city or cities, at least for a time, which, though given them,... read more

John Gill

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

Certain men, the children of Belial ,.... Which signify either persons without a yoke, who have thrown off the yoke of God's law, and will not submit to it, or unprofitable ones, as wicked men be, both to God, themselves, and others: are gone out from among you ; not locally, but with respect to their religious sentiments and practices, having separated themselves from the people of God, and from the service of the sanctuary, the true worship of God, and a profession of it, and given... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:14

Then shalt thou inquire, make search, and ask diligently ,.... That is, of the witnesses, as the Targum of Jonathan; and this is a case that is only taken into consideration and judged of by the great sanhedrim, or that of seventy one, at Jerusalem F15 Maimon. Obede Cochabim, c. 4. sect. 3. 6. ; and the method they took was this, when it fell under their cognizance: the great sanhedrim send and inquire and search till they know clearly that the whole city, or the greater part of it,... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Children of Belial - בליעל , from בל bal , not, and יעל yaal , profit; - Sept. ανδρες παρανομοι , lawless men; - persons good for nothing to themselves or others, and capable of nothing but mischief. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:12

Verse 12 12.If thou shalt hear say. If impiety and rebellion should more widely prevail, Moses declares that whole cities, together with their inhabitants, should rather be destroyed, than that so great a crime should remain unpunished. Hence we may better infer how unholy is the tenderness of those who would have no punishment inflicted for the violation of the religion of God. If any sedition may have arisen in an army or nation, and the contagion may have spread through the whole multitude,... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 13 13.Certain men, the children of Belial. Moses puts a case, which very often is wont to occur. For all do not break forth into impiety together at the same moment, but Satan stirs up some who are like fans to excite others; and by their instigations the multitude is led to imitate them. Moses calls such as these “children of Belial;” (61) by which word some think that rebellious (proefractos ) men are pointed out, and expound it “without yoke.” Their opinion, however, seems to be more... 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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