John Gill Commentary Deuteronomy 13:5

John Gill Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:5

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:5

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"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)

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to
death
Which death, according to the Targum of Jonathan, was to be killed with the sword:

because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God ;
or "spoken revolt against the Lord" F12 , high treason against him, delivering out doctrine that tends to cause his subjects to rebel against him, and revolt from him; and therefore he is justly deserving of death, to draw off a people from him he has been so good and kind to; so that to apostasy would be added the sin of ingratitude:

which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the
house of bondage ;
and so was not only their Lord by creation whom they ought to serve, but by redemption, which laid them under double obligation to serve him:

to thrust you out of the way which the Lord your God commanded you to
walk in ;
not by external force, but by the power of persuasion, by enticing words and arguments:

so you shall put the evil away from the midst of you ;
the evil man, by putting him to death, and the evil of idolatry, by not listening to the words of the false prophet.


FOOTNOTES:

  • F12: (hro) "apostasiam", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "defectionem", Tigurine version.