Here's the full text:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2013:12-18;&version=50;
What's your interpretation? Is it literal? Metaphorical? If it's metaphorical, what's the metaphor?
2007-01-01 17:38:19 · 13 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's pretty obvious, The Dude. God is telling the Israelites that if the people of one of one of the cities God has given them to dwell in begins to worship other gods, to destroy them, and burn the belongings also, so that the other god worship is wiped out. Like a cancer, it spreads, and therefore must be removed.
2007-01-01 17:46:26 · answer #1 · answered by frenzy-CIB- Jim's with Jesus 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This passage is definitely metaphorical. The metaphor within this reading basically suggests that, as Christians, we should be cautious of the devotion to wealth, greed, 'wrong desires'--to the love of worldly pleasures--and to endeavor to make sure this doesn't happen within our own lives or families; to live by example and to educate our children (not by the sword, fire, or belt), ensuring that we/they know what the root of all evil is. This passage suggests that we have to pray that the Big G guides us in our daily lives, so that that we know, within our hearts, that the path we are on is the path that the Big G would want us to travel.
2007-01-01 18:27:38 · answer #2 · answered by What, what, what?? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude, people back in the old testament did alot of weird things. But when God spoke, whet er people are killed or animals are burnt for offerings, it's his word.
An example, Abraham had to be circumcision because God said it was a covenant between them.-Gen 17 There were many instructions that God gave to his prophets. The bible gateway website is an awesome tool. You can search by topics and words.
2007-01-01 17:53:36 · answer #3 · answered by Dave 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If inhabitants of a particular city were deceived by others into worshipping a false God, then those inhabitants and their livestock would be killed and burned, along with the city itself. It can be either with the common punishment of death for worshipping a false God. I don't think there is a metaphor with that context that can be translated into anything else but death for false worship.
2007-01-01 17:49:07 · answer #4 · answered by ConstElation 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They were commanded to do just that. They were immersed in Egypt before this and God wanted them to be pure of heart and not be taken by false Gods. His judgments were stern, but they had to be to preserve God's words for generations to come. God takes a long look at the future to preserve His people. Isn't it a miracle that the jews have been preserved thru history.
2007-01-01 17:58:07 · answer #5 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is literal. God is saying if a city moves from worshiping Him, to worshiping idols, they should be destroyed. Our God will not be mocked. God will not let those who mock Him escape his righteous judgments. The New Testament speaks of communion with idolaters as a sin which, above any other, provokes the Lord to jealousy, and dares Him as if we were stronger than He, 1 Co. 10:21, 22.
I'm wondering if God has judgment planned for Yahoo?
2007-01-01 18:10:27 · answer #6 · answered by ted.nardo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Literal
This passage is talking about people who are breaking God's Law and worshiping other gods.
God didn’t confine His wrath (to this group of people at this time). He proclaimed the death sentence upon the whole of humanity. We will all die because we have broken God’s Law. Every one of us is waiting on death row. Instead of standing in moral judgment over Almighty God, we need to judge ourselves according to the Law of God. We will find that we have a multitude of sins and therefore are deserving of punishment. Yet God, out of love, paid the penalty for our sin so we would not have to.
2007-01-01 17:53:37 · answer #7 · answered by Sister Christian 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As usual, you make me think too damn much for so late at night.
Our benevolent God is going to destroy a city and its livestock if they are caught worshiping another God.
What about worshiping the same God but in another way? Say, Buddhism for example.
2007-01-01 17:53:36 · answer #8 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a typology of Hell.
Symbolizes what will happen to those that do not follow G-d. The killing of the people by sword represents an atheist death, and then the fire and the dishonor and the extinction without chance to reconcile or rebuild shows you what Hell is like.
Blessings in 2007, and its not too late, DUDE!
David
2007-01-01 17:51:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Very simply, when you utterly destroy infidels, you are not to profit from it. Some Israelites disregarded that part of the injunction that deals with burning everything. They certainly regretted it later, let me tell you. Nope, when God has a rival, you don't mess around. Burn EVERYTHING! Out! STOMP! Kill! It's the virtuous thing to do.
2007-01-01 18:09:04 · answer #10 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋