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Matthew Henry

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 13:16

And thou shall gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof ,.... All the wealth and substance of the inhabitants, their household goods, shop goods, merchandise, utensils in trade and business, and everything that can be named. The Jews say F16 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 11. sect. 6. , if there is no street, they make one (or a marketplace); if that is without it, they bring them into the midst of it: and shall burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 13:16

Verse 16 16.And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it. They are commanded to burn all the furniture, and whatever is found in the city; and the reason is subjoined, because it is accursed (anathema) If any city was taken in war, all that God here commands to be burnt was to be counted as spoil, for the Jews would pollute themselves by its very touch. It might be indeed that God’s intention was to obviate covetousness, lest the Jews should mix up their zeal with rapine; but the principal reason... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12-18

A third ease supposed is that of the inhabitants of a city being seduced by wicked men into idolatry. In this case inquiry was to be made as to the fact; and if it was found to be so, the inhabitants of that city were to be put to the sword, all their property was to be burnt, and the city itself reduced to a heap; so should the anger of the Lord be averted from Israel, and he would do them good. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12-18

A city under ban. The case here supposed is even more appalling than the former one, for it is the inhabitants of a whole city who, with all that they have, are to be destroyed. Yet, as it is certain that godly persons, dreading the execution of this sentence, would leave this city as soon as they found out what was going on—being very possibly the bearers of the tidings to others—the curse would practically take effect only on those who were in league with the idolaters. Searching... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:16

All the spoil thereof every whir, for the Lord thy God ; rather, all the spoil [booty] thereof as a whole offering unto Jehovah thy God ; it was to be wholly devoted to God, and as such to be consumed by fire. "It was a destruction, and not properly an offering. Hence the author selects neither עֹולָה nor חַטָּאת , but כָּליִל , whole, whole offering ( Deuteronomy 33:10 ; Le Deuteronomy 6:15 (22) ), which word, in the law concerning offering, is no technical... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 13:16

Every whit, for the Lord thy God - Some prefer: “as a whole offering to the Lord thy God.” read more

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