Deuteronomy17
New Living Translation
1“Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the Lord your God, for he detests such gifts.
2“When you begin living in the towns the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman among you might do evil in the sight of the Lord your God and violate the covenant.
3For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden.
4When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
5then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death.
6But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
7The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.
8“Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide—for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the Lord your God will choose,
9and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.
10You must carry out the verdict they announce and the sentence they prescribe at the place the Lord chooses. You must do exactly what they say.
11After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.
12Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the Lord your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.
13Then everyone else will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.
14“You are about to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’
15If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the Lord your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.
16“The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’
17The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.
18“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
19He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.
20This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 17.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: All sacrifices to be perfect, Idolaters must be slain. (1–7). Difficult controversies. (8–13). The choice of a king, His duties. (14–20).
vv1-7
No creature which had any blemish was to be offered in sacrifice to God. We are thus called to remember the perfect, pure, and spotless sacrifice of Christ, and reminded to serve God with the best of our abilities, time, and possession, or our pretended obedience will be hateful to him. So great a punishment as death, so remarkable a death as stoning, must be inflicted on the Jewish idolater. Let all who in our day set up idols in their hearts, remember how God punished this crime in Israel.
vv8-13
Courts of judgment were to be set up in every city. Though their judgment had not the Divine authority of an oracle, it was the judgment of wise, prudent, experienced men, and had the advantage of a Divine promise.
vv14-20
God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingly, when the people desired a king, they applied to Samuel, a prophet of the Lord. In all cases, God's choice, if we can but know it, should direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bibles, but will have constant occasion for them, till they come to that world where knowledge and love will be made perfect. The king's writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better for it even in this world.
Key Words
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
זָבַח: to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
שׁוֹר: a bullock (as a traveller)
שֶׂה: a member of a flock, i.e. a sheep or goat
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
מאוּם: to stain; a blemish (physically or morally)
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
תּוֹעֵבַה: properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol
Cross References
Deuteronomy 17Solomon's historical violation of the prohibition against multiplying wives, which turned his heart away.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Detailed legal definitions of sacrificial blemishes rendering an animal unacceptable to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament citation of the two-or-three witnesses rule for capital covenant infractions.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical fulfillment of Israel demanding a king 'like all the nations,' rejecting God's direct rule.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Poetic reference to the ancient practice of worshipping the sun and moon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The foundational law requiring multiple witnesses to establish any charge in Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jehoshaphat's establishment of a supreme court in Jerusalem to handle hard cases.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Solomon's accumulation of chariots and import of horses from Egypt in direct violation.
Supported by JFB
The coronation of Joash, where he is given 'the testimony' or copy of the law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic rebuke of Israel offering blind, lame, and sick animals in violation of this law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The requirement to search, inquire, and ask diligently regarding reports of apostasy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's active selection and confirmation of Saul as the first king.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Prophetic woe on those going down to Egypt for help and relying on horses.
Supported by JFB
The command to Joshua to meditate on the book of the law day and night.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The requirement that the Passover lamb be without blemish, foreshadowing Christ.
Supported by JFB