Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Deuteronomy 13
"If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder," — Deuteronomy 13:1 (ASV)
A prophet, or a dreamer of dreams - Compare (Numbers 12:6). The “prophet” received his revelations by vision or direct oral communication (Numbers 24:16; 2 Samuel 7:4; 2 Corinthians 12:2); “the dreamer of dreams” through the medium of a dream (1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 2:13).
"and 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;" — Deuteronomy 13:2 (ASV)
The Lord had said, You shall have no other gods but Me. A prophet is here supposed who invites the people to go after other gods. To such a one no credit is under any circumstances to be given, even if he shows signs and wonders to authenticate his doctrine. The standing rule of faith and practice had been laid down once for all—that the people were to hold fast. The prophet who propounded another rule could only be an impostor.
A different case is considered in Deuteronomy 18:18 and following.
"And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee." — Deuteronomy 13:5 (ASV)
The context and parallel passages (Leviticus 20:2) indicate that there was to be a regular judicial procedure, and that the manner of the execution was to be by stoning. In this the community was to take its part in order to show its horror at the crime, and to clear itself of complicity in it.
"If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that 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;" — Deuteronomy 13:6 (ASV)
If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, which is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;
"If thou shalt hear tell concerning one of thy cities, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to dwell there, saying," — Deuteronomy 13:12 (ASV)
City was to keep jealous watch over city, as man over man. The clause which the Lord your God has given you to dwell in significantly reminds them that the real ownership of their dwellings rested in the Lord , and that they, the mere tenants, must not allow His property to become a center of rebellion against His just authority.
Jump to: