Deuteronomy 17 Commentary
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose;
And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Deuteronomy 17 offers crucial insights into the theocratic governance of Israel, addressing matters of worship, justice, and the future establishment of a monarchy. These regulations were designed to maintain the nation's spiritual purity and ensure righteous leadership. Let's delve into the specifics of this chapter.
The Purity of Worship (Deuteronomy 17:1-7)
Deuteronomy 17:1-7 emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining pure worship within Israel. Moses seamlessly transitions from the duties of judges (mentioned in the previous chapter) to forbidding idolatrous practices, highlighting the intertwined nature of civil rule and religious purity in Israel's theocratic system. Even civil leaders bore the responsibility of safeguarding the nation's devotion to God and punishing those who strayed.
The text addresses the grave offense of idolatry. Any form of worship deviating from God's explicit commands was strictly prohibited. Accusations of false worship demanded thorough investigation (Deuteronomy 17:2-4). This involved a careful inquiry to ascertain the truthfulness of the claims. If the accusations were substantiated by credible evidence, the guilty party was to be put to death (Deuteronomy 17:5), signifying the severity of the offense against God's holiness.
The legal process was designed to prevent unjust convictions. A person could not be condemned based on hearsay or the testimony of a single individual. Deuteronomy 17:6 stipulates that a conviction required the testimony of two or three witnesses. Furthermore, these witnesses were not merely to offer their testimony; they were also required to participate in the execution, symbolically "purging the evil" from Israel (Deuteronomy 17:7). This requirement served as a deterrent against false accusations and emphasized the gravity of their role in upholding justice.
Establishing a System of Justice (Deuteronomy 17:8-13)
Recognizing the potential for complex legal disputes, Moses established a hierarchical system of justice in Deuteronomy 17:8-13. Local judges were to handle routine cases. However, when faced with matters too difficult to resolve, they were to seek a higher court at the central sanctuary. This supreme court consisted of both religious and civil leaders: the Levitical priests and the presiding judge (Deuteronomy 17:9).
The verdict rendered by this supreme court was to be considered final and binding. Moses underscored the importance of obedience by repeatedly emphasizing that all parties involved must adhere strictly to the instructions given, without exception (Deuteronomy 17:10-11). This unwavering obedience was crucial because the leaders were acting as God's representatives, and their judgments reflected His divine will. Disregarding the priest or judge's decision carried severe consequences: death (Deuteronomy 17:12), reinforcing the gravity of defying God's ordained authority.
Anticipating the Monarchy (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 anticipates Israel's future transition to a monarchy, acknowledging the people's desire to have a king like the surrounding nations (see 1 Samuel 8:4-5). However, this shift in governmental structure did not diminish God's ultimate sovereignty. The divine King would continue to reign, albeit through a human representative. The Lord's blessings would remain contingent upon the king's obedience to His laws.
Moses laid down specific qualifications and limitations for the king. First, the king had to be an Israelite, not a foreigner (Deuteronomy 17:15). Second, he was forbidden from acquiring excessive horses, which would necessitate returning to Egypt, a direct violation of God's command (Deuteronomy 17:16). Third, he was not to accumulate many wives or amass vast quantities of silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17).
Most importantly, the king was commanded to write a personal copy of God's law and read it diligently throughout his life (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). This constant engagement with Scripture would serve as a safeguard against pride and ensure that he remained faithful to God's commands.
The history of Israel's kings reveals a mixed record of obedience and disobedience. While some kings sought to follow God's law, many others succumbed to temptation and led the nation astray. King Solomon, despite his renowned wisdom, tragically violated these very commandments by accumulating thousands of horses, marrying numerous foreign women who turned his heart away from God, and amassing immeasurable wealth. This serves as a sobering reminder that access to wisdom does not guarantee its application. It underscores the constant need for humility, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to God's Word, even for those in positions of great power and influence. The ultimate King that Israel needed would be God himself, coming in human flesh.
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose;
And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Deuteronomy 17 offers crucial insights into the theocratic governance of Israel, addressing matters of worship, justice, and the future establishment of a monarchy. These regulations were designed to maintain the nation's spiritual purity and ensure righteous leadership. Let's delve into the specifics of this chapter.
The Purity of Worship (Deuteronomy 17:1-7)
Deuteronomy 17:1-7 emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining pure worship within Israel. Moses seamlessly transitions from the duties of judges (mentioned in the previous chapter) to forbidding idolatrous practices, highlighting the intertwined nature of civil rule and religious purity in Israel's theocratic system. Even civil leaders bore the responsibility of safeguarding the nation's devotion to God and punishing those who strayed.
The text addresses the grave offense of idolatry. Any form of worship deviating from God's explicit commands was strictly prohibited. Accusations of false worship demanded thorough investigation (Deuteronomy 17:2-4). This involved a careful inquiry to ascertain the truthfulness of the claims. If the accusations were substantiated by credible evidence, the guilty party was to be put to death (Deuteronomy 17:5), signifying the severity of the offense against God's holiness.
The legal process was designed to prevent unjust convictions. A person could not be condemned based on hearsay or the testimony of a single individual. Deuteronomy 17:6 stipulates that a conviction required the testimony of two or three witnesses. Furthermore, these witnesses were not merely to offer their testimony; they were also required to participate in the execution, symbolically "purging the evil" from Israel (Deuteronomy 17:7). This requirement served as a deterrent against false accusations and emphasized the gravity of their role in upholding justice.
Establishing a System of Justice (Deuteronomy 17:8-13)
Recognizing the potential for complex legal disputes, Moses established a hierarchical system of justice in Deuteronomy 17:8-13. Local judges were to handle routine cases. However, when faced with matters too difficult to resolve, they were to seek a higher court at the central sanctuary. This supreme court consisted of both religious and civil leaders: the Levitical priests and the presiding judge (Deuteronomy 17:9).
The verdict rendered by this supreme court was to be considered final and binding. Moses underscored the importance of obedience by repeatedly emphasizing that all parties involved must adhere strictly to the instructions given, without exception (Deuteronomy 17:10-11). This unwavering obedience was crucial because the leaders were acting as God's representatives, and their judgments reflected His divine will. Disregarding the priest or judge's decision carried severe consequences: death (Deuteronomy 17:12), reinforcing the gravity of defying God's ordained authority.
Anticipating the Monarchy (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 anticipates Israel's future transition to a monarchy, acknowledging the people's desire to have a king like the surrounding nations (see 1 Samuel 8:4-5). However, this shift in governmental structure did not diminish God's ultimate sovereignty. The divine King would continue to reign, albeit through a human representative. The Lord's blessings would remain contingent upon the king's obedience to His laws.
Moses laid down specific qualifications and limitations for the king. First, the king had to be an Israelite, not a foreigner (Deuteronomy 17:15). Second, he was forbidden from acquiring excessive horses, which would necessitate returning to Egypt, a direct violation of God's command (Deuteronomy 17:16). Third, he was not to accumulate many wives or amass vast quantities of silver and gold (Deuteronomy 17:17).
Most importantly, the king was commanded to write a personal copy of God's law and read it diligently throughout his life (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). This constant engagement with Scripture would serve as a safeguard against pride and ensure that he remained faithful to God's commands.
The history of Israel's kings reveals a mixed record of obedience and disobedience. While some kings sought to follow God's law, many others succumbed to temptation and led the nation astray. King Solomon, despite his renowned wisdom, tragically violated these very commandments by accumulating thousands of horses, marrying numerous foreign women who turned his heart away from God, and amassing immeasurable wealth. This serves as a sobering reminder that access to wisdom does not guarantee its application. It underscores the constant need for humility, vigilance, and unwavering commitment to God's Word, even for those in positions of great power and influence. The ultimate King that Israel needed would be God himself, coming in human flesh.