Deuteronomy 13:13. Certain men, children of Belial So the most profligate and worthless are called in Scripture. The expression properly signifies persons without yoke, lawless, and rebellious, that will suffer no restraint, that neither fear God nor reverence man. Are gone out from you Have separated themselves from you in point of religion, and carry themselves stubbornly and presumptuously herein. read more
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
men. Hebrew, plural of ' ish or 'enosh. App-14 . children = sons. Belial. First occurrence. A word denoting all that is wicked and worthless; hopeless, as to character and destiny. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy, App-6 , for the Evil One as the instigator of all the uncleanness of heathenism. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:15 . read more
Ver. 12-15. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities— From the case of particular persons, Moses proceeds to that of whole cities; by which must be meant Israelitish cities, professing the true religion. Children of Belial signify the most profligate and worthless: Belial signifies, properly, one who is good for nothing, subject to no law, no yoke; and so is a fit name for the devil, and all the sons of disobedience. See Judges 19:22. 1 Samuel 1:16; 1Sa 10:27; 1 Samuel 17:25. The rabbis, not... read more
The town 13:12-18The closest example of a whole town apostatizing that occurred in Israel that Scripture records appears in Judges 20 : the case of Gibeah, a city in Benjamin (cf. Sodom). The circumstances were not exactly the same, but the other Israelites did discipline this town because of its gross sinfulness. In such cases the whole city was to be destroyed and not rebuilt."This doom, which goes contrary to the common practice of rebuilding towns on the ruins of the site, as the... read more
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
(13) Children of Belial.—The very same expression is used in Judges 20:13 : “Deliver us the men, the children of Belial, that are among you.” This is the first place where the expression “sons of Belial” occurs, and Judges 19:22 is the second. It is generally explained by modern scholars as “worthlessness.” Rashi curiously makes it “destroyers of the yoke” (of Jehovah). read more
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
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
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 13:13
In Deuteronomy 15:9 and in Nahum 1:11 the word “Belial” is rendered in our translation by the adjective “wicked.” The word means “worthlessness.”(from Barnes’ Notes) read more