Read Deuteronomy 13 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew Paragraphs:
Deu 13:1-5 {s} Death for the prophet who tries to turn Israel from YHVH
Deu 13:6-11 {s} Death for the loved one who tries to turn Israel from YHVH
Deu 13:12-18 {s} Death for the city in Israel who turns from YHVH
The Chiastic Structure of the first paragraph:
The Hebrew Root Word parables of the C pairs and central axis:
To test is Strong’s H5254 נסה nacah, a primitive verb meaning, “to prove, to test, to try.” We have encountered this verb before in Numbers 14. The parable is of continuing (nun) to grab hold (sin) and lift up (hey). The idea of proving comes from a test which was often undertaken to see if someone was worthy to be lifted to a higher position or rank.
To love is Strong’s H157 אהב ahab, a primitive verb meaning “to desire, to breathe after.” We have encountered this verb before in Genesis 37 and Deuteronomy 10. The parable is of strong (aleph) love (hey + bet), the sense of wonder, even astonishment, and appreciation the man feels when beholding (hey) his family (bet).
To walk is Strong’s H3212 ילך yalak, a primitive verb meaning, “to go, to go out, to get out.” The ancient pictographs are yud + lamed + kaph.
yud י = closed hand, thus work, throw, worship
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
kaph כ, ך = open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
The parable is of grasping (yud) the staff (lamed) in the palm (kaph). When someone left home, he took his staff in his palm, to aid in walking. Nomads went with their flocks finding pasture, following the circle of the year; just we walk in God’s ways after Him, following His Sabbaths and Feast days in the circle of the year.
To fear is Strong’s H3372 ירא yare, a primitive root meaning, “to fear.” We have encountered this verb before in Exodus 20, Proverbs 1, and Proverbs 3. The parable is of a man worshiping (yud) that which is above himself (resh) as the greater (aleph). When we fear something other than God (man, or loss) we have entered into idolatry.
To keep is Strong’s H8104 שמר shamar, a primitive verb meaning, “to keep, to watch, to guard as a husbandman or shepherd.” We have encountered this verb before in Leviticus 22, Numbers 9, and Deuteronomy 6. The parable is of closely guarding (sin) for the next generation (nun) that which is of first importance (resh). We keep His commandments not only for ourselves, but a society which keeps His commandments safeguards the society for future generations.
To pay heed is Strong’s H8085 שמע shamar, a primitive verb meaning, “to hear, to listen and attend, to hear and answer, to obey or give heed.” We have encountered this verb before in Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 6, and Proverbs 5. The parable is of breathing intently (shin + mem) when we listen, as we focus on what is being said so that we can comprehend it (ayin). Paying heed means to not only listen, but then to act on what we have heard.
To serve is Strong’s H5647 עבד abad, a primitive verb meaning, “to labor, to do work, to serve as a bondsman.” We have encountered this verb before in Matthew 12. The parable is of watching and knowing (ayin) what is needed by the family and household (bet), thus going in and out of the door (dalet) to provide for it.
To cleave is Strong’s H1692 דבק dabaq, a primitive verb meaning, “to cleave, to adhere firmly.” The ancient pictographs are dalet + bet + quph.
dalet ד = the door, thus enter, move, hang
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within
quph ק = sun on the horizon, thus condense, circle, time
The parable is of entering (dalet) the house (bet) at sunset (quph). In ancient days the man of the house spent his labor in the fields or in the pasture with the flocks. When his day of working in was done, he went home to his wife. He doesn’t make himself unavailable because he is a workaholic, out with the guys, or finding other things to occupy his time. He cleaves to her.
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