Deuteronomy 13:10

My Notes

What Does Deuteronomy 13:10 Mean?

"And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." The death penalty for the person who entices to IDOLATRY — even if that person is your closest FAMILY MEMBER (verse 6 — brother, son, daughter, wife, friend). The reason stated: 'he hath sought to THRUST THEE AWAY from the LORD.' The enticement to idolatry is described as being PUSHED AWAY from God. The enticing is the thrusting. The seduction is the separating. The sin isn't just 'wrong religion.' It's ASSAULT on the covenant-relationship.

The phrase "sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God" (ki biqqesh lehaddichacha me'al YHWH Elohekha — because he sought to drive you away from upon the LORD your God) makes the enticement AGGRESSIVE: the verb hiddiyach means to drive away, to push off, to force out of position. The enticer isn't just OFFERING an alternative. The enticer is PUSHING you away from God. The enticement is VIOLENT in its spiritual effect — a thrusting-away, a driving-off, a forced separation from the relationship.

The "which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (hamotzi'akha me'eretz Mitzrayim mibbeit avadim) REPEATS the exodus-credential from the Ten Commandments' preamble (5:6): the God being thrust away from is the God who RESCUED you. The pushing-away is from the RESCUER. The enticement separates you from the LIBERATOR. The severity of the penalty matches the severity of the crime: the one who pushes you away from the God who FREED you is committing the ultimate BETRAYAL.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What enticement is trying to thrust you away from the God who freed you?
• 2.What does the enticement being described as THRUSTING (aggressive, violent) teach about its nature?
• 3.How does the God you're being pushed FROM being the God who RESCUED you intensify the crime?
• 4.What relationship-assault disguised as an 'alternative' is operating in your life?

Devotional

Stone him. Because he tried to THRUST you away from the LORD your God — the God who brought you OUT of Egypt, out of the house of BONDAGE. The enticement to idolatry is described as ASSAULT: pushing you away from the God who rescued you. The seduction is the separating. The crime is measured by what you're being separated FROM.

The 'sought to thrust thee away' makes the enticement AGGRESSIVE: the verb means to DRIVE AWAY, to PUSH OFF, to FORCE from position. The enticer isn't just suggesting an alternative deity. The enticer is PUSHING you from God — actively, intentionally, with force. The enticement is spiritual VIOLENCE. The seduction is relational ASSAULT. The crime isn't 'offered a different perspective.' The crime is 'tried to break your relationship with God.'

The 'from the LORD thy God' identifies WHAT you're being pushed from: not from a concept. From a PERSON — the LORD, YOUR God. The pushing is from a RELATIONSHIP, not from a system. The enticer attacks the BOND between you and God. The covenant-connection is the TARGET. The relationship is what's being THRUST away from.

The 'which brought thee out of Egypt' REPEATS the rescue-credential: the God you're being pushed from is the God who SAVED you. The enticer tries to separate you from your RESCUER. The one who pushes you from God pushes you from FREEDOM — because the God who brought you OUT of bondage is the God of your LIBERTY. The pushing-away from God is the pushing-back toward slavery.

What 'enticement' is trying to thrust you away from the God who freed you — and do you recognize it as assault?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture