1. Premeditated Murder Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12–14, 22, 23
DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON 13:1–18 After the general prohibition of involvement in Canaanite worship (12:29–31), Moses discussed three ways in which the temptation to idolatry was likely to come to Israel: 1) through a false prophet (13:1–5); 2) through a family member (vv. 6–11); or 3) through apostates in some Canaanite city (vv. 12–18).
DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON 13:2 the sign or wonder . . . comes to pass. Miraculous signs alone were never meant to be a test of truth (cf. Pharaoh's magicians in Ex. 7–10). A prophet or a dreamer's prediction may come true, but if his message contradicted God's commands, the people were to trust God and his word rather than such experience. Let us go after other gods. The explicit temptation was to renounce allegiance to the Lord and go after other gods. The result of this apostasy would be the serving of these false gods by worshiping them, which would be in direct contradiction to the first commandment (Deut. 5:7).
DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON 13:3 the Lord your God is testing you. God, in his sovereignty, allowed the false prophets to entice the people to apostasy to test the true disposition of the hearts of the Israelites. And while the temptation was dangerous, the overcoming of that temptation would strengthen the people in their love for God and obedience to his commandments. Cf. 6:5.
DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON 13:5 purge the evil from your midst. The object of the severe penalty was not only the punishment of the evildoer, but also the preservation of the community. Paul must have had this text in mind when he gave a similar command to the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Cor. 5:13; also Deut. 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21; 24:7).
DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON 13:6 your brother . . . friend. The temptation to idolatry might also come from a member of the immediate family or from an intimate friend. While the temptation from the false prophet would be made openly based on a sign or wonder, this temptation would be made secretly and would be based upon the intimacy of relationship.
The Death Penalty
The Death Penalty Crime Scripture Reference 1. Premeditated Murder Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12–14, 22, 23