Deuteronomy 18:9-22

1A.(9) When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,

1B. thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

1C.(10) There shall not be found among you any one
that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,
or that useth divination,
or an observer of times,
or an enchanter,
or a witch,
(11) Or a charmer,
or a consulter with familiar spirits,
or a wizard,
or a necromancer.

1B’.(12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:

1A’. and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

2A.(13) Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

2B.(14) For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners:

2A’. but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

3A.(15) The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

3B.(16) According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

3B’.(17) And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

3A’.(18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

4A.(20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name,

4B. which I have not commanded him to speak,

4C. or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

4D.(21) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

4C’.(22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD,

4B’. if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken,

4A’. but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

One thought on “Deuteronomy 18:9-22”

  1. Might this whole passage also be a single larger conceptual chiasm?
    A. Whom not to listen to: occult practioners (9-14)
    B. Whom to listen to: The Prophet (15)
    C. Why a prophet is necessary (16-17)
    B. Whom to listen to: The Prophet (18-19)
    A. Whom not to listen to: false prophets (20-22)

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