CHAPTER 13
. ENTICERS TO
IDOLATRY TO BE
PUT TO DEATH.
1. If there arise among you a
prophet—The special counsels which follow arose out of the
general precept contained in ; and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce
others from the course of duty which that divine standard of faith
and worship prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the
seducer punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three
cases of enticement to idolatry.
a prophet—that is, some
notable person laying claim to the character and authority of the
prophetic office (Numbers 12:6;
1 Samuel 10:6), performing feats of
dexterity or power in support of his pretensions, or even predicting
events which occurred as he foretold; as, for instance, an eclipse
which a knowledge of natural science might enable him to anticipate
(or, as Caiaphas, John 18:14).
Should the aim of such a one be to seduce the people from the worship
of the true God, he is an impostor and must be put to death. No
prodigy, however wonderful, no human authority, however great, should
be allowed to shake their belief in the divine character and truth of
a religion so solemnly taught and so awfully attested (compare John 18:14). The modern Jews appeal to this passage as justifying their
rejection of Jesus Christ. But He possessed all the characteristics
of a true prophet, and He was so far from alienating the people from
God and His worship that the grand object of His ministry was to lead
to a purer, more spiritual and perfect observance of the law.
John 18:14. WITHOUT
REGARD TO NEARNESS
OF RELATION.
6. If thy brother . . . entice thee
secretly—This term being applied very loosely in all Eastern
countries (Genesis 20:13), other
expressions are added to intimate that no degree of kindred, however
intimate, should be allowed to screen an enticer to idolatry, to
conceal his crime, or protect his person. Piety and duty must
overcome affection or compassion, and an accusation must be lodged
before a magistrate.
9. thou shalt surely kill him—not
hastily, or in a private manner, but after trial and conviction; and
his relative, as informer, was to cast the first stone (see on ; ). It is manifest
that what was done in secret could not be legally proved by a single
informer; and hence Jewish writers say that spies were set in some
private part of the house, to hear the conversation and watch the
conduct of a person suspected of idolatrous tendencies.
12-18. Certain men, the children of
Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22;
1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25),
who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to
idol-worship.
14. Then shalt thou inquire—that
is, the magistrate, to whom it officially belonged to make the
necessary investigation. In the event of the report proving true, the
most summary proceedings were to be commenced against the apostate
inhabitants. The law in this chapter has been represented as stern
and sanguinary, but it was in accordance with the national
constitution of Israel. God being their King, idolatry was treason,
and a city turned to idols put itself into a state, and incurred the
punishment, of rebellion.
12-18. Certain men, the children of
Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22;
1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25),
who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to
idol-worship.
16. it shall be an heap for ever; it
shall not be built again—Its ruins shall be a permanent
monument of the divine justice, and a beacon for the warning and
terror of posterity.
17. there shall cleave naught of the
cursed thing to thine hand—No spoil shall be taken from a city
thus solemnly devoted to destruction. Every living creature must be
put to the sword—everything belonging to it reduced to ashes—that
nothing but its infamy may remain.
12-18. Certain men, the children of
Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22;
1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25),
who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to
idol-worship.
CHAPTER 13
. ENTICERS TO IDOLATRY TO BE PUT TO DEATH.
1. If there arise among you a prophet—The special counsels which follow arose out of the general precept contained in ; and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce others from the course of duty which that divine standard of faith and worship prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the seducer punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three cases of enticement to idolatry.
a prophet—that is, some notable person laying claim to the character and authority of the prophetic office (Numbers 12:6; 1 Samuel 10:6), performing feats of dexterity or power in support of his pretensions, or even predicting events which occurred as he foretold; as, for instance, an eclipse which a knowledge of natural science might enable him to anticipate (or, as Caiaphas, John 18:14). Should the aim of such a one be to seduce the people from the worship of the true God, he is an impostor and must be put to death. No prodigy, however wonderful, no human authority, however great, should be allowed to shake their belief in the divine character and truth of a religion so solemnly taught and so awfully attested (compare John 18:14). The modern Jews appeal to this passage as justifying their rejection of Jesus Christ. But He possessed all the characteristics of a true prophet, and He was so far from alienating the people from God and His worship that the grand object of His ministry was to lead to a purer, more spiritual and perfect observance of the law.
John 18:14. WITHOUT REGARD TO NEARNESS OF RELATION.
6. If thy brother . . . entice thee secretly—This term being applied very loosely in all Eastern countries (Genesis 20:13), other expressions are added to intimate that no degree of kindred, however intimate, should be allowed to screen an enticer to idolatry, to conceal his crime, or protect his person. Piety and duty must overcome affection or compassion, and an accusation must be lodged before a magistrate.
9. thou shalt surely kill him—not hastily, or in a private manner, but after trial and conviction; and his relative, as informer, was to cast the first stone (see on ; ). It is manifest that what was done in secret could not be legally proved by a single informer; and hence Jewish writers say that spies were set in some private part of the house, to hear the conversation and watch the conduct of a person suspected of idolatrous tendencies.
12-18. Certain men, the children of Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22; 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25), who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to idol-worship.
14. Then shalt thou inquire—that is, the magistrate, to whom it officially belonged to make the necessary investigation. In the event of the report proving true, the most summary proceedings were to be commenced against the apostate inhabitants. The law in this chapter has been represented as stern and sanguinary, but it was in accordance with the national constitution of Israel. God being their King, idolatry was treason, and a city turned to idols put itself into a state, and incurred the punishment, of rebellion.
12-18. Certain men, the children of Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22; 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25), who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to idol-worship.
16. it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again—Its ruins shall be a permanent monument of the divine justice, and a beacon for the warning and terror of posterity.
17. there shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand—No spoil shall be taken from a city thus solemnly devoted to destruction. Every living creature must be put to the sword—everything belonging to it reduced to ashes—that nothing but its infamy may remain.
12-18. Certain men, the children of Belial—lawless, designing demagogues (Judges 19:22; 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 25:25), who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to idol-worship.