# Faithful to the LORD alone Deuteronomy · Draft · BSB Content revision: 4ff484678b8a6ee3 · No editorial review date recorded [Citation / readable page](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/faithful-to-the-lord-alone/) [Open interactive map](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/?study=deuteronomy§ion=faithful-to-the-lord-alone) [Markdown](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/faithful-to-the-lord-alone/index.md) [JSON](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/studies/deuteronomy/faithful-to-the-lord-alone/index.json) Date: c. 1406 BC · Year 40, month 11 (Deuteronomy 1:3). Dated from 1 Kings 6:1 (the Exodus c. 1446 BC). Many scholars instead date the Exodus to about 1260 BC, placing these speeches about 1220 BC. Even if a prophet’s sign comes true, Israel must not follow him to other gods; the LORD is testing whether they love him with all their heart. Not even a close relative or a whole town may be allowed to lead them away to serve other gods. Deuteronomy records Moses’ last speeches to the new generation of Israel on the plains of Moab, in the fortieth year after the Exodus (1:3). It looks back over the journey from Egypt and Horeb and forward to life in the land, calling Israel to love the LORD and remember what he has done. Each section below lists what Moses recalls, with links to those events on the timeline, and where the rest of Scripture takes up the passage. The Ten Commandments, the great commandment, and the statutes for life in the land, ending with blessings and curses (4:44–28:68). ## Primary Scripture [Deuteronomy 13:1–18 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2013%3A1%E2%80%9318&version=BSB) 13:1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 13:2 and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” 13:3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 13:4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. 13:5 Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. 13:6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, 13:7 the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), 13:8 you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. 13:9 Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 13:10 Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13:11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you. 13:12 If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said 13:13 that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), 13:14 then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, 13:15 you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock. 13:16 And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt. 13:17 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, 13:18 because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God. ## Where Scripture takes it up [Matthew 24:24](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024%3A24&version=BSB) Jesus warns of false prophets performing signs. [The temple’s future and watchfulness](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/olivet-discourse/) [1 John 4:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204%3A1&version=BSB) Test the spirits. ## Location evidence Plains of Moab: Approximate region. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.64, 31.85\]. Classification source: editorial. Illustrative regional extent: \[\[35.56,31.77\],\[35.7,31.91\]\]; not a measured confidence interval. [Numbers 33:48–49 · extent of the camp](https://ebible.org/eng-web/NUM33.htm) ## For the class How does this chapter help us test what we hear in God’s name? ## Interpretation and reuse Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review. Record source: editorial Study guide: original editorial writing for Scripture Atlas. Place coordinates: OpenBible.info, CC BY 4.0. Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm [Use this atlas with AI / data documentation](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/ai/)