Deuteronomy 13

1 a prophet. All pretensions to a Divine commission must be tested by the revelation already given.

2 come to pass. Which might arise from contrivance, or the artful use of superior scientific knowledge.

6. If thy brother, the son of thy mother. Should read, “If thy brother or thy half-brother,” the son of thy mother.

9 thou shalt surely kill. That is, after legal trial; the accuser and witnesses being expected to cast the first stone. As the government of Israel was a theocracy (God Himself being their King), idolatry was high treason.

13 children of Belial. “Sons of worthlessness” (R.V.), i.e., good-for-nothing men; a frequent designation of the wicked and profligate.

15 destroying. Lit. “devoting.” The doom of the Canaanites was to come upon such a city.