Deuteronomy 13:12

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 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

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 13:6-12

God or our brother. Terribly stern is the duty here laid on the person enticed to idolatry. The law is adapted to an age of stern deeds, and to a people living under a stern dispensation. Yet, reflecting on the nature of the crime, on the constitution of the Jewish state, and on the issues to mankind which hung on the slender thread of this one nation's fidelity, it is difficult to see how it could well have been less stern than it is. Its severity was perhaps its mercy. Note, too, that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 13:12

Hear in one of thy cities. The Hebrew phrase, "to hear in" ( שָׁמַע בְּ ). has sometimes the meaning of to overhear, as in Genesis 27:5 ; 1 Samuel 17:28 ; Job 15:8 ; sometimes it means simply to hear, as in 2 Samuel 19:36 (35) ; in Job 26:14 , it has the force of to hear of or concerning, though some think this questionable. This latter is apparently the meaning here: If thou hear concerning any of thy cities , etc. Baying. This introduces what is heard. 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

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