Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your handsThis phrase refers to the command that Israelites must completely destroy anything associated with idolatry or pagan worship. In the context of Deuteronomy, this is part of the instructions for dealing with cities that have turned to idol worship. The term "devoted to destruction" (Hebrew: "herem") indicates something set apart for complete destruction as an offering to God. This reflects the seriousness of idolatry and the need for purity among God's people. The command to not let anything cling to their hands emphasizes the need for total separation from sin and idolatry, echoing the call for holiness found throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Leviticus 19:2). so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger
This phrase highlights the conditional nature of God's relationship with Israel. God's anger is described as "fierce," indicating the severity of His response to sin, particularly idolatry, which is seen as spiritual adultery. The turning away of God's anger is contingent upon Israel's obedience to His commands. This reflects the covenantal relationship where blessings and curses are dependent on Israel's faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28). The concept of God's anger turning away is also seen in other scriptures, such as Jonah 3:9-10, where Nineveh's repentance leads to God relenting from disaster. grant you mercy
Mercy is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting God's character as compassionate and forgiving. The granting of mercy here is contingent upon Israel's obedience and repentance. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God's mercy is extended to those who turn back to Him (e.g., Psalm 103:8-13). The Hebrew word for mercy, "racham," conveys deep compassion and love, akin to a parent's love for a child. This promise of mercy underscores the hope of restoration and forgiveness. show you compassion
Compassion, closely related to mercy, emphasizes God's tender care and concern for His people. The promise of compassion is a reassurance of God's willingness to restore and bless His people despite their failures. This reflects the nature of God as described in Exodus 34:6-7, where He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." The call to show compassion is also a model for how God's people are to treat others, as seen in the teachings of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 9:36). and multiply you as He swore to your fathers
This phrase connects to the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised to multiply Abraham's descendants (Genesis 12:2, 15:5). The multiplication of Israel is both a literal promise of numerous descendants and a metaphor for blessing and prosperity. This promise is contingent upon Israel's faithfulness to God, reflecting the covenantal theme of blessings for obedience. The fulfillment of this promise is seen in the growth of Israel as a nation and is ultimately fulfilled in the spiritual descendants of Abraham through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:29). Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, receiving the laws and commandments as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 3. Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 4. Devoted to DestructionRefers to items or people that are to be completely destroyed as an act of devotion to God, often related to idolatry or pagan practices. 5. The LORDThe covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is delivering these commands through Moses. Teaching Points Complete ObedienceGod requires complete obedience to His commands, especially regarding idolatry and sin. Partial obedience is disobedience. Holiness and SeparationBelievers are called to be holy and separate from sin, just as the Israelites were to be separate from the pagan practices around them. God's Mercy and CompassionObedience leads to experiencing God's mercy and compassion, as He desires to bless and multiply His people. Consequences of DisobedienceDisobedience can lead to God's anger and the loss of His blessings, as seen in the history of Israel. Devotion to GodOur lives should be wholly devoted to God, removing anything that hinders our relationship with Him. Bible Study Questions 1. What does it mean for something to be "devoted to destruction," and how does this concept apply to our lives today? 2. How can we ensure that nothing "clings to our hand" that would hinder our relationship with God? 3. In what ways does complete obedience to God lead to experiencing His mercy and compassion? 4. How can the account of Achan in Joshua 6 serve as a warning for us in our spiritual walk? 5. How does the call to holiness in Deuteronomy 13:17 relate to the New Testament teachings on living a life devoted to God? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 6The account of Jericho, where items were devoted to destruction, and Achan's sin of taking some of these items led to Israel's defeat at Ai. 1 Samuel 15King Saul's failure to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions, leading to God's rejection of him as king. Leviticus 27Discusses things devoted to the Lord, emphasizing the seriousness of vows and dedications. Romans 12Encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, drawing a parallel to being wholly devoted to God. Hebrews 12Warns against allowing sin to cling to us, similar to the command to not let anything devoted to destruction cling to the Israelites. People MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Anger, Anything, Ban, Burning, Cleave, Cling, Compassion, Condemned, Cursed, Devoted, Fathers, Fierce, Fierceness, Forefathers, Hands, Heat, Increase, Loved, Mercies, Mercy, Multiplied, Multiply, Naught, None, Nothing, Nought, Numbers, Oath, Order, Promised, Shew, Swore, Sworn, Turn, Wrath, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 13:17 1030 God, compassion
5844 emotions Deuteronomy 13:17-18 6667 grace, in OT
6688 mercy, demonstration of God's Library Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of GodKnox's Writings from Abroad: Beginning of the Scottish Revolution, 1556-1558
Knox was about this time summoned to be one of the preachers to the English at Geneva. He sent in advance Mrs. Bowes and his wife, visited Argyll and Glenorchy (now Breadalbane), wrote (July 7) an epistle bidding the brethren be diligent in reading and discussing the Bible, and went abroad. His effigy was presently burned by the clergy, as he had not appeared in answer to a second summons, and he was outlawed in absence. It is not apparent that Knox took any part in the English translation of the …
Andrew Lang—John Knox and the Reformation With, Before, After
'Enoch walked with God,'--GENESIS v. 22. 'Walk before Me.'--GENESIS xvii. 1. 'Ye shall walk after the Lord your God.'--DEUTERONOMY xiii. 4. You will have anticipated, I suppose, my purpose in doing what I very seldom do--cutting little snippets out of different verses and putting them together. You see that these three fragments, in their resemblances and in their differences, are equally significant and instructive. They concur in regarding life as a walk--a metaphor which expresses continuity, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from Heaven' - Journey to Cæsarea Philippi - what is the Leaven of The
THEY might well gather to Jesus in their thousands, with their wants of body and soul, these sheep wandering without a shepherd; for His Ministry in that district, as formerly in Galilee, was about to draw to a close. And here it is remarkable, that each time His prolonged stay and Ministry in a district were brought to a close with some supper, so to speak, some festive entertainment on his part. The Galilean Ministry had closed with the feeding of the five thousand, the guests being mostly from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Colossians 3, 12-17. 12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the Word …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely Religious, and Pertaining to the Conscience.
Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters purely Religious, and pertaining to the Conscience. Since God hath assumed to himself the power and Dominion of the Conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it, therefore it is not lawful [1226] for any whosoever, by virtue of any authority or principality they bear in the government of this world, to force the consciences of others; and therefore all killing, banishing, fining, imprisoning, and other such things which are inflicted …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDAEAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR. The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Deuteronomy 13:17 NIVDeuteronomy 13:17 NLTDeuteronomy 13:17 ESVDeuteronomy 13:17 NASBDeuteronomy 13:17 KJV
Deuteronomy 13:17 Commentaries
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