Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 13:13
[Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
In Deu 15:9 and in Nah 1:11 the word Belial is rendered in our translation by the adjective wicked. The word means worthlessness.
(from Barnes Notes)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Children of Belial] , from bal, not, and yaal, profit; – Sept. , lawless men; – persons good for nothing to themselves or others, and capable of nothing but mischief.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The children of Belial; a title oft used in Scripture, as Jdg 19:22; 1Sa 1:16; 25:25; 2Sa 16:7. It signifies properly persons without yoke, vile and wretched miscreants, lawless and rebellious, that will suffer no restraint, that neither fear God nor reverence man.
From among you, i.e. from your church and religion. It notes a separation or departure from them, not in place, (as appears by their partnership with their fellow citizens both in the sin and punishment, as it here follows,) but in heart, doctrine, and worship, as the same phrase is used, 1Jo 2:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Certain men, the children of Belial,…. Which signify either persons without a yoke, who have thrown off the yoke of God’s law, and will not submit to it, or unprofitable ones, as wicked men be, both to God, themselves, and others:
are gone out from among you; not locally, but with respect to their religious sentiments and practices, having separated themselves from the people of God, and from the service of the sanctuary, the true worship of God, and a profession of it, and given into the worship of idols:
and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city; withdrawn them by the force of persuasion from the worship of the true God, and drawn them into idolatry:
saying, let us go and serve other gods; unite as one man in the worship of the gods of the Gentiles:
which ye have not known; this was not said by the children of Belial, but is added by the Lord by way of explanation, showing what gods they were that these men advised them to serve, and confirms the observation made on De 13:6.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The third case is that of a town that had been led away to idolatry. “ If thou shalt hear in one of thy cities.” , not de una , of one, which with never can mean, and does not mean even in Job 26:14. The thought is not that they would hear in one city about another, as though one city had the oversight over another; but there is an inversion in the sentence, “ if thou hear, that in one of thy cities…worthless men have risen up, and led the inhabitants astray to serve strange gods.” introduces the substance of what is heard, which follows in Deu 13:14. merely signifies to rise up, to go forth. , out of the midst of the people.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
13. Certain men, the children of Belial. Moses puts a case, which very often is wont to occur. For all do not break forth into impiety together at the same moment, but Satan stirs up some who are like fans to excite others; and by their instigations the multitude is led to imitate them. Moses calls such as these “children of Belial;” (61) by which word some think that rebellious ( proefractos ) men are pointed out, and expound it “without yoke.” Their opinion, however, seems to be more correct, who interpret it “men of nothing,” men in whom nothing good or praiseworthy is found; and literally translate it “those who are worthless.” (62) This expression is invariably applied to the wicked ( sceleratis, improbis, et nequam 😉 and therefore Paul, contrasting Christ with Belial, designates by it Satan the chief of all the wicked. (2Co 6:15.) He uses the words “gone out,” as if they had dared to come forward, and openly to parade their impiety. But, though the evil may have originated with a few authors, he does not mean that punishment should stop with them; as if the instigation of others availed as an excuse for the multitude. And he enjoins diligent inquiry to be made, for two reasons: viz., lest they should connive at the iniquity, and be lax, and careless about it, or lest they should be too hasty and precipitate in their judgment; because, on the one hand, whilst we are never equitable, nor decide rightly in precipitation and anger, so on the other it betrays base indifference, and something like disloyalty, to overlook so great a crime. Thus both activity and moderation are commended, so that the judge may neither be lax, nor make any decision until the matter shall be carefully inquired into.
(61) בליעל, Belial. If the authority of the points be conceded, this word must be considered as composed of בלי, without, and יעל, use, or profit, so as to correspond with our expression good-for-nothing; but, if the points be disregarded, it might be considered as made up of בלי, and על , without yoke; insubmissive, rebellious. S.M.’s note says, “Without the yoke of the Divine Law.” — W.
(62) “ Ausquels il ne se trouve pas une seule goutte de bien.” — Fr. The Lat., “ Eos, qui non ascendunt,” appears to be a misprint; possibly for qui non assis sunt?
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) Children of Belial.The very same expression is used in Jdg. 20:13 : Deliver us the men, the children of Belial, that are among you. This is the first place where the expression sons of Belial occurs, and Jdg. 19:22 is the second. It is generally explained by modern scholars as worthlessness. Rashi curiously makes it destroyers of the yoke (of Jehovah).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Children of Belial Literally, Sons of worthlessness or wickedness, equivalent to wicked men. As in Psa 18:4, where our version renders “floods of ungodly men,” the same word Belial is used. Also in Psa 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu 13:13 [Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
Ver. 13. Children of Belial. ] Renegade are the worst of men. See 1Jn 2:19 . Rabshakeh is held such a one; so Bertius, Tilenus, Staphilus, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew, plural of ‘ish or ‘enosh. App-14.
children = sons.
Belial. First occurrence. A word denoting all that is wicked and worthless; hopeless, as to character and destiny. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy, App-6, for the Evil One as the instigator of all the uncleanness of heathenism. Compare 2Co 6:15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the children: or, naughty men, Jdg 19:22, Jdg 20:13, 1Sa 2:12, 1Sa 10:27, 1Sa 25:17, 1Sa 25:25, 2Sa 16:7, 2Sa 20:1, 2Sa 23:6, 1Ki 21:10, 1Ki 21:13, 2Ch 13:7, Joh 8:44, 2Co 6:15, 1Jo 3:10
Belial: Belial is derived by some from beli, not, and al, over, i.e., one so proud and envious as not to bear a superior; by others, from beli, not, and ol, a yoke, i.e., a lawless, ungovernable person, , “lawless men,” as the LXX render. It is, however, more probably derived from beli, not, and yaal, profit, i.e., a worthless person, good for nothing to himself or others, and capable of nothing but mischief.
are gone: Deu 4:19, 2Ki 17:21, 1Jo 2:19, Jud 1:19
Let us: Deu 13:2, Deu 13:6
Reciprocal: Num 25:4 – and hang Num 25:5 – Slay ye 1Sa 1:16 – a daughter 1Sa 30:22 – wicked 1Ki 13:9 – Eat no bread Jer 19:4 – burned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 13:13. Certain men, children of Belial So the most profligate and worthless are called in Scripture. The expression properly signifies persons without yoke, lawless, and rebellious, that will suffer no restraint, that neither fear God nor reverence man. Are gone out from you Have separated themselves from you in point of religion, and carry themselves stubbornly and presumptuously herein.