[[Deut-13]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Deut-12]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Deut-14]] --- ### If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let's go after other gods"... you shall not listen to the words of that prophet *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: The text predicts the future emergence of false prophets and dreamers who will possess the ability to perform genuine signs and wonders, but will use them to lead the people into idolatry as a test of their devotion. *Historical context*: Theological and historical records identify numerous figures in Israel's history who fulfilled this pattern, such as the 400 prophets who misled Ahab ([[1 Kings|1 Kings 22]]) and the prophet Hananiah who opposed Jeremiah ([[Jer|Jeremiah 28]]). In the first century AD, the historian Josephus documented various 'sign prophets' who led followers into the wilderness with promises of miracles, aligning with the warnings later echoed by Jesus in [[Matt-24#v24|Matthew 24:24]]. *Related to*: ### multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The text describes the multiplication of the Israelite people as the ongoing realization of the divine oath made to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. *Historical context*: Biblical scholars and historians view the demographic transition of the Israelites from a single family ([[Gen|Genesis 46]]) to a nation of hundreds of thousands by the time of the Exodus and the subsequent Monarchy as the literal fulfillment of the promise in [[Gen-15#v5|Genesis 15:5]] to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars. *Related to*: [[Gen-12#v2|Genesis 12:2]], [[Gen-15#v5|Genesis 15:5]], and [[Gen-22#v17|Genesis 22:17]] (The Abrahamic Covenant) ### It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: A prophetic judicial decree stating that any Israelite city that turns collectively to idolatry and is subsequently destroyed will remain a permanent mound of ruins (tel) and never be inhabited again. *Historical context*: The term 'tel olam' (everlasting heap) used here describes a specific archaeological and historical phenomenon in the Ancient Near East. While this was a legal command, its language is mirrored in the prophetic doom of cities like Samaria; [[Micah-01#v6|Micah 1:6]] uses similar terminology to predict Samaria becoming a 'heap of ruins' due to its persistent idolatry, a state that was realized after the Assyrian conquest of 722 BC. *Related to*: --- #ai_prophecy