Deut. 13 Enticers to idolatry, being permitted by God to try Israel, were to be stoned to death., Deut. 13:1–5, though near of kin, Deut. 13:6–11. A city found guilty of idolatry to be burnt and utterly destroyed, Deut. 13:12–16.

Among you, i.e. one of your nation, for such might be both seduced and afterwards seducers. A dreamer of dreams; one that pretends himself to be one to whom God hath revealed himself, either by visions or dreams. See Num. 12:6. Giveth thee a sign or a wonder, i.e.

And the sign or the wonder come to pass; which God may suffer for the reason after mentioned. Saying: this word is to be joined with the beginning of Deut.

Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet; not receive his doctrine, though the sign come to pass. For although when such a sign or wonder foretold did not follow or come to pass, it was a sign of a false prophet, as is said, Deut.

Ye shall serve him, to wit, only, as appears from the opposition. Compare Deut. 6:13, with Matt. 4:10.

He hath spoken, i.e. taught or persuaded you. To turn you away from the Lord; to forsake God and his worship. He shows that the chiefest and most certain character of a true prophet, is to be taken from his doctrine rather than from his miracles.

The son of thy mother: this is added to restrain the signification of the word brother, which is oft used generally for one near akin, and to express the nearness of the relation, the mother’s side being the surest, and usually the ground of the truest and most fervent affection. See Gen. 20:12.

He arms against the preference of the universality of this idol worship, wherewith they were like to be oft assaulted.

i.e. Smother his fault, hide or protect his person, but shalt accuse him to the magistrate, and demand justice upon him, which was not to be done in most other criminal causes; and no wonder, this crime being of a far higher nature than others.

Thou shalt surely kill him; not privately, which pretence would have opened the door to innumerable murders, but by procuring his death by the sentence of the magistrate; and thou shalt cast the first stone at him, as the witness was to do. See Deut. 17:7, Acts 7:58.

The children of Belial; a title oft used in Scripture, as Judg. 19:22, 1 Sam. 1:16, 1 Sam. 25:25, 2 Sam. 16:7. It signifies properly persons without yoke, vile and wretched miscreants, lawless and rebellious, that will suffer no restraint, that neither fear God nor reverence man.

Then shalt thou inquire: this is meant of the magistrate, to whose office this properly belongs, and of whom he continues to speak in the same manner, thou, Deut. 13:15–16.

The inhabitants of that city, to wit, all that are guilty, not the innocent part, such as disowned this apostacy, who doubtless by choice and interest, at least upon warning, would come out of so wicked and cursed a place.

For the Lord thy God, i.e. for the satisfaction of God’s justice, the maintenance of his honour and authority and laws, and the pacification of his offended majesty.

Of the cursed thing, i.e. of the goods of that accursed city. And multiply thee; so thou shalt have no loss of thy numbers by cutting off so many people.