12 If thou shalt hear H8085 say in one H259 of thy cities, H5892 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath given H5414 thee to dwell H3427 there, saying, H559
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 say, H559 Behold, the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 have built H1129 an altar H4196 over against H4136 the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 in the borders H1552 of Jordan, H3383 at the passage H5676 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 of it, the whole congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together H6950 at Shiloh, H7887 to go up H5927 to war H6635 against them. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 unto the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 and to the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 and to the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4519 into the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 And with him ten H6235 princes, H5387 of each H259 H259 chief H5387 H5387 house H1004 a prince H1 throughout all the tribes H4294 of Israel; H3478 and each one H376 was an head H7218 of the house H1004 of their fathers H1 among the thousands H505 of Israel. H3478 And they came H935 unto the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 and to the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 and to the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4519 unto the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 and they spake H1696 with them, saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the whole congregation H5712 of the LORD, H3068 What trespass H4604 is this that ye have committed H4603 against the God H430 of Israel, H3478 to turn away H7725 this day H3117 from following H310 the LORD, H3068 in that ye have builded H1129 you an altar, H4196 that ye might rebel H4775 this day H3117 against the LORD? H3068 Is the iniquity H5771 of Peor H6465 too little H4592 for us, from which we are not cleansed H2891 until this day, H3117 although there was a plague H5063 in the congregation H5712 of the LORD, H3068 But that ye must turn away H7725 this day H3117 from following H310 the LORD? H3068 and it will be, seeing ye rebel H4775 to day H3117 against the LORD, H3068 that to morrow H4279 he will be wroth H7107 with the whole congregation H5712 of Israel. H3478 Notwithstanding, H389 if the land H776 of your possession H272 be unclean, H2931 then pass ye over H5674 unto the land H776 of the possession H272 of the LORD, H3068 wherein the LORD'S H3068 tabernacle H4908 dwelleth, H7931 and take possession H270 among H8432 us: but rebel H4775 not against the LORD, H3068 nor H408 rebel H4775 against us, in building H1129 you an altar H4196 beside H1107 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430 Did not Achan H5912 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 commit H4603 a trespass H4604 in the accursed thing, H2764 and wrath H7110 fell H1961 on all the congregation H5712 of Israel? H3478 and that man H376 perished H1478 not alone H259 in his iniquity. H5771 Then the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 answered, H6030 and said H1696 unto the heads H7218 of the thousands H505 of Israel, H3478 The LORD H3068 God H410 of gods, H430 the LORD H3068 God H410 of gods, H430 he knoweth, H3045 and Israel H3478 he shall know; H3045 if it be in rebellion, H4777 or if in transgression H4604 against the LORD, H3068 (save H3467 us not this day,) H3117 That we have built H1129 us an altar H4196 to turn H7725 from following H310 the LORD, H3068 or if to offer H5927 thereon burnt offering H5930 or meat offering, H4503 or if to offer H6213 peace H8002 offerings H2077 thereon, let the LORD H3068 himself require H1245 it; And if we have not rather done H6213 it for fear H1674 of this thing, H1697 saying, H559 In time to come H4279 your children H1121 might speak H559 unto our children, H1121 saying, H559 What have ye to do with the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel? H3478 For the LORD H3068 hath made H5414 Jordan H3383 a border H1366 between us and you, ye children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and children H1121 of Gad; H1410 ye have no part H2506 in the LORD: H3068 so shall your children H1121 make H7673 our children H1121 cease H7673 from H1115 fearing H3372 the LORD. H3068 Therefore we said, H559 Let us now prepare H6213 to build H1129 us an altar, H4196 not for burnt offering, H5930 nor for sacrifice: H2077 But that it may be a witness H5707 between us, and you, and our generations H1755 after H310 us, that we might do H5647 the service H5656 of the LORD H3068 before H6440 him with our burnt offerings, H5930 and with our sacrifices, H2077 and with our peace offerings; H8002 that your children H1121 may not say H559 to our children H1121 in time to come, H4279 Ye have no part H2506 in the LORD. H3068 Therefore said H559 we, that it shall be, when they should so say H559 to us or to our generations H1755 in time to come, H4279 that we may say H559 again, Behold H7200 the pattern H8403 of the altar H4196 of the LORD, H3068 which our fathers H1 made, H6213 not for burnt offerings, H5930 nor for sacrifices; H2077 but it is a witness H5707 between us and you. God forbid H2486 that we should rebel H4775 against the LORD, H3068 and turn H7725 this day H3117 from following H310 the LORD, H3068 to build H1129 an altar H4196 for burnt offerings, H5930 for meat offerings, H4503 or for sacrifices, H2077 beside the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 that is before H6440 his tabernacle. H4908 And when Phinehas H6372 the priest, H3548 and the princes H5387 of the congregation H5712 and heads H7218 of the thousands H505 of Israel H3478 which were with him, heard H8085 the words H1697 that the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 spake, H1696 it pleased H3190 H5869 them. And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 said H559 unto the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 and to the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 and to the children H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 This day H3117 we perceive H3045 that the LORD H3068 is among H8432 us, because ye have not committed H4603 this trespass H4604 against the LORD: H3068 now H227 ye have delivered H5337 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of the hand H3027 of the LORD. H3068 And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and the princes, H5387 returned H7725 from the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 and from the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 out of the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 unto the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 to the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and brought H7725 them word H1697 again. H7725 And the thing H1697 pleased H3190 H5869 the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 blessed H1288 God, H430 and did not intend H559 to go up H5927 against them in battle, H6635 to destroy H7843 the land H776 wherein the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and Gad H1410 dwelt. H3427 And the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 called H7121 the altar H4196 Ed: for it shall be a witness H5707 between us that the LORD H3068 is God. H430
Then all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out, H3318 and the congregation H5712 was gathered together H6950 as one H259 man, H376 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba, H884 with the land H776 of Gilead, H1568 unto the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh. H4709 And the chief H6438 of all the people, H5971 even of all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 presented H3320 themselves in the assembly H6951 of the people H5971 of God, H430 four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen H376 H7273 that drew H8025 sword. H2719 (Now the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone up H5927 to Mizpeh.) H4709 Then said H559 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 Tell H1696 us, how was H1961 this wickedness? H7451 And the Levite, H3881 H376 the husband H376 of the woman H802 that was slain, H7523 answered H6030 and said, H559 I came H935 into Gibeah H1390 that belongeth to Benjamin, H1144 I and my concubine, H6370 to lodge. H3885 And the men H1167 of Gibeah H1390 rose H6965 against me, and beset H5437 the house H1004 round about H5437 upon me by night, H3915 and thought H1819 to have slain H2026 me: and my concubine H6370 have they forced, H6031 that she is dead. H4191 And I took H270 my concubine, H6370 and cut her in pieces, H5408 and sent H7971 her throughout all the country H7704 of the inheritance H5159 of Israel: H3478 for they have committed H6213 lewdness H2154 and folly H5039 in Israel. H3478 Behold, ye are all children H1121 of Israel; H3478 give H3051 here H1988 your advice H1697 and counsel. H6098 And all the people H5971 arose H6965 as one H259 man, H376 saying, H559 We will not any H376 of us go H3212 to his tent, H168 neither will we any H376 of us turn H5493 into his house. H1004 But now this shall be the thing H1697 which we will do H6213 to Gibeah; H1390 we will go up by lot H1486 against it; And we will take H3947 ten H6235 men H582 of an hundred H3967 throughout all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 and an hundred H3967 of a thousand, H505 and a thousand H505 out of ten thousand, H7233 to fetch H3947 victual H6720 for the people, H5971 that they may do, H6213 when they come H935 to Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin, H1144 according to all the folly H5039 that they have wrought H6213 in Israel. H3478 So all the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gathered H622 against the city, H5892 knit together H2270 as one H259 man. H376 And the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 men H582 through all the tribe H7626 of Benjamin, H1144 saying, H559 What wickedness H7451 is this that is done H1961 among you? Now therefore deliver H5414 us the men, H582 the children H1121 of Belial, H1100 which are in Gibeah, H1390 that we may put them to death, H4191 and put away H1197 evil H7451 from Israel. H3478 But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 would H14 not hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of their brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H622 out of the cities H5892 unto Gibeah, H1390 to go out H3318 to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 were numbered H6485 at that time H3117 out of the cities H5892 twenty H6242 and six H8337 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword, H2719 beside the inhabitants H3427 of Gibeah, H1390 which were numbered H6485 seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 men. H376 Among all this people H5971 there were seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 men H376 lefthanded; H334 H3027 H3225 every one could sling H7049 stones H68 at an hair H8185 breadth, and not miss. H2398 And the men H376 of Israel, H3478 beside Benjamin, H1144 were numbered H6485 four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword: H2719 all these were men H376 of war. H4421
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 13
Commentary on Deuteronomy 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
De 13:1-5. 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 De 12:32; 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 (Nu 12:6; 1Sa 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, Joh 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 Ga 1:8). 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.
De 13:6-18. Without Regard to Nearness of Relation.
6. If thy brother … entice thee secretly—This term being applied very loosely in all Eastern countries (Ge 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 De 17:2; Ac 7:58). 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 (Jud 19:22; 1Sa 1:16; 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.
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.