12 "If you hear in one of your cities , which the Lord your God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that 13 some worthless men have gone out from among you and have seduced the inhabitants of their city , saying , ' Let us go and serve other gods ' (whom you have not known ), 14 then you shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly . If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword , utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword . 16 " Then you shall gather all its booty into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God ; and it shall be a ruin forever . It shall never be rebuilt . 17 "Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand , in order that the Lord may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase , just as He has sworn to your fathers , 18 if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God , keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today , and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 13:12-18
Commentary on Deuteronomy 13:12-18
(Read Deuteronomy 13:12-18)
Here is the case of a city revolting from the God of Israel, and serving other gods. The crime is supposed to be committed by one of the cities of Israel. Even when they were ordered to preserve their religion by force, yet they were not allowed to bring others to it by fire and sword. Spiritual judgments under the Christian dispensation are more terrible than the execution of criminals; we have not less cause than the Israelites had, to fear the Divine wrath. Let us then fear the spiritual idolatry of covetousness, and the love of worldly pleasure; and be careful not to countenance them in our families, by our example or by the education of our children. May the Lord write his law and truth in our hearts, there set up his throne, and shed abroad his love!