Context No. 2411 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 13:12-18: in context

12If you hear about one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, that 13certain wicked fellows have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods,” which you have not known, 14then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you, 15you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, with all that is therein and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16You shall gather all its plunder into the middle of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, with all of its plunder, to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. 17Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, 18when you listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do that which is right in the LORD your God’s eyes.

This is one of the hard laws of Deuteronomy, dealing with an entire town led into worshiping other gods. The penalty prescribed is severe, and it belongs to the ancient covenant setting, not to ours. But set inside the harshness is a striking procedural command: before anything is done, you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently, and act only if it is true and the thing is certain.

Even where the stakes are highest and the accusation is grave, the law forbids acting on rumor. Inquire, investigate, ask diligently, three demands for careful truth-finding before judgment. It would have been easy to let panic or hearsay drive the response; the command insists on establishing the facts first. That principle outlives the ancient penalty. The temptation to condemn quickly, on a report we have not checked, is always with us, and here even a matter treated as deadly serious must first be proven true.

Do I condemn on rumor and first impressions, or take the time to inquire and establish what is actually true?

Sources

Deuteronomy 13:14: then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain.
Proverbs 18:13: He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Proverbs 18:17: He who pleads his cause first seems right, until another comes and questions him.