Deuteronomy 13

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 13

1¶ If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

6¶ If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which [is] as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

7[Namely], of the gods of the people which [are] round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth;

8Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:

9But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

10And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

11And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

12¶ If thou shalt hear [say] in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,

13[Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;

14Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, [if it be] truth, [and] the thing certain, [that] such abomination is wrought among you;

15Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that [is] therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.

16And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.

17And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

18When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do [that which is] right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 13 outlines strict laws against idolatry, emphasizing that anyone who promotes the worship of other gods must be put to death. This applies to false prophets, enticing family members or friends, and even entire cities that turn away from the LORD. The chapter stresses absolute loyalty to God and the severe consequences for apostasy, ensuring the removal of evil from Israel.

Medium Summary

Deuteronomy 13 establishes severe penalties for those who attempt to lead Israel into idolatry. It begins by addressing false prophets or dreamers who, even if their signs come true, advocate serving other gods; such individuals are to be executed as a test of Israel's devotion to the LORD. The chapter then extends this principle to close family members or friends who secretly entice others to worship foreign deities, mandating their death without pity. Finally, it addresses the case of an entire city that turns to idolatry, requiring a diligent inquiry. If confirmed, the city and all its inhabitants, including livestock, are to be utterly destroyed by the sword, and all spoil burned as a dedicated offering to the LORD, leaving the city as a permanent ruin. These harsh measures are designed to purge evil from Israel and ensure the nation's exclusive allegiance to the God who delivered them from Egypt, promising mercy and multiplication upon obedience.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 13 presents a series of stringent laws designed to safeguard Israel's exclusive worship of the LORD and prevent apostasy. The chapter first addresses the threat of false prophets or dreamers who, despite performing signs or wonders that come to pass, seek to entice the people to serve other gods. It explicitly commands that such individuals are not to be heeded, as their actions are a test from the LORD to discern the depth of Israel's love and loyalty. Consequently, these prophets are to be put to death for attempting to turn the people away from the God who redeemed them from Egypt, thereby removing evil from the community. Secondly, the chapter extends this uncompromising stance to personal relationships, decreeing that if a close relative—be it a brother, son, daughter, wife, or friend—secretly entices one to serve foreign gods, there must be no pity or concealment. The individual who was enticed is commanded to be the first to lay hands on the enticer for execution by stoning, followed by the rest of the people. This severe punishment serves as a deterrent, ensuring that all Israel hears and fears, preventing further wickedness. Lastly, Deuteronomy 13 outlines the protocol for dealing with an entire city that has fallen into idolatry, led astray by "children of Belial." Upon hearing such a report, a thorough investigation is required to ascertain the truth of the abomination. If confirmed, the inhabitants of that city, along with all within it, including their cattle, are to be utterly destroyed by the sword. All the spoil of the city is to be gathered into the street and burned entirely with fire as a burnt offering to the LORD, leaving the city as a perpetual heap never to be rebuilt. It is strictly forbidden for anyone to take any of the cursed spoil, ensuring complete separation from idolatry. This extreme measure is presented as a means for the LORD to turn from His fierce anger and show mercy and compassion to Israel, multiplying them as promised, provided they diligently obey His commandments and do what is right in His eyes.

Core Concepts

  • False ProphetsIndividuals who perform signs or wonders but attempt to lead the people to worship other gods. They are to be put to death, as their actions are a test of Israel's faithfulness to the LORD.
  • Divine TestingThe LORD allows false prophets to arise and perform signs to test the sincerity of Israel's love and devotion to Him, ensuring their loyalty is absolute.
  • Capital Punishment for IdolatryThe chapter mandates the death penalty for any individual, whether a prophet, family member, or friend, who entices others to serve foreign gods, emphasizing the severity of apostasy.
  • No Pity for ApostatesEven close family members or friends who promote idolatry are to be shown no mercy or pity; the community is commanded to execute them to purge evil.
  • Annihilation of Apostate CitiesIf an entire city turns to idolatry, it is to be utterly destroyed, including its inhabitants and livestock, and all its spoil burned, serving as a permanent warning and a complete removal of the cursed thing.
  • Purity of WorshipThe overarching theme is the absolute necessity of exclusive worship of the LORD, with severe consequences for any deviation, ensuring the nation's spiritual purity and continued divine favor.
  • Consequences of Obedience/DisobedienceObedience to these strict laws against idolatry is linked to the LORD turning from His anger, showing mercy, and multiplying Israel, while disobedience invites His wrath.