Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 13:12–end
Here the case is put of a city revolting from its allegiance to the God of Israel, and serving other gods.
I. The crime is supposed to be committed, 1. By one of the cities of Israel, that lay within the jurisdiction of their courts. The church then judged those only that were within, Co1 5:12, Co1 5:13. And, even when they were ordered to preserve their religion in the first principles of it by fire and sword to propagate it. Those that are born within the allegiance of a prince, if they take up arms against him, are dealt with as traitors, but foreign invaders are not so. The city that is here supposed to have become idolatrous is one that formerly worshipped the true God, but had now with…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 13:12
Certain men, the children of Belial--lawless, designing demagogues (Jdg 19:22; Sa1 1:16; Sa1 25:25), who abused their influence to withdraw the inhabitants of the city to idol-worship.
John Gill on Deuteronomy 13:12
If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities,.... A report concerning them, anyone of them:
which the Lord thy God had given thee to dwell there; which he had not only given them, but had put them into the possession of, and it was become their dwelling place, or was inhabited by Israelites; otherwise they were already given unto them, but did not inherit and inhabit them, and it might be possible that there might be some city or cities, at least for a time, which, though given them, were not inhabited by them, but by the Canaanites, and such cities this law did not concern: saying; as follows.
John Calvin on Deuteronomy 13:12-17
Deuteronomy 13:12-17
12. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
12. Si audieris de una urbium tuarum quas Jehova Deus tuus dat tibi ut habites ibi, aliquem dicen-tem:
13. Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
13. Egressi sunt quidam homines filii impietatis e medio tui, qui impulerunt habitatores urbis suae, dicendo, Eamus et colamus deos alienos quos non nostis.
14. Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain…
