UNROLL
At dusk a small walled hill town of Canaan sits across a valley, a few lamps lit in its doorways and terraces below it; beyond, a dark grove of oaks crowns a far ridge.

The Book of

Deuteronomy 13

What if the sign comes true? What if the one who whispers is someone you love? Loyalty to the LORD comes first.

18 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–4Remember the wayFrom Horeb to Moab
  2. 5–11Love the LORDThe heart of the covenant
  3. 12–26Laws for the landWorship, justice, neighborChapter 13
  4. 27–30Blessing and curseChoose life
  5. 31–34Moses' farewellA song, a blessing, a death

Idolaters to Be Put to Death

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

Deuteronomy 13:4

On a steep, narrow mountain path in the morning, a small child's hand grips a father's strong, weathered hand as they climb, the valley falling away beside them.

Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Reflect

What would pull me away?

Moses names a voice with a sign that comes true and still says, “Let us follow other gods.” Most pulls away from God are quieter than that: a voice you admire, a hope you can’t let go of, a habit that has started to rule. Write down what most easily draws your heart from the LORD. Then pray one line: Lord, keep me holding fast to You.

At night inside the doorway of a goat-hair tent, lit by one clay lamp, a man seen from behind listens as another, close beside him and half in shadow, leans in to whisper, a small carved figurine half hidden in his hand.

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other),

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.

Question

Quick question

A prophet gives a sign, and it comes true. Then he says, “Let us follow other gods.”

When a prophet’s sign came true but he called Israel to other gods, what was the LORD doing?

Idolatrous Cities to Be Destroyed

Moses

Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

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Deuteronomy 13

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A verse to carry with you

You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

Deuteronomy 13:4

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