Deuteronomy17

Deuteronomy 17 outlines critical laws concerning worship, justice, and future kingship. It forbids blemished sacrifices and prescribes death by stoning for idolaters, requiring multiple witnesses for conviction. The chapter establishes a supreme judicial authority of priests and a judge for difficult cases, whose rulings must be obeyed. Finally, it sets forth specific regulations for a future king, emphasizing his divine selection, Israelite origin, and strict adherence to God's law.

Purity in Offerings and Worship

1
"You are not to sacrifice to ADONAI your God a cow or sheep that has a defect or anything wrong with it; that would be an abomination to ADONAI your God. ​

Punishment for Idolatry and Apostasy

2
"If there is found among you, within any of your gates [in any city] that ADONAI your God gives you, a man or woman who does what ADONAI your God sees as wicked, transgressing his covenant ​
3
by going and serving other gods and worshipping them, the sun, the moon, or anything in the sky - something I have forbidden -
4
and it is told to you, or you hear about it; then you are to investigate the matter diligently. If it is true, if it is confirmed that such detestable things are being done in Isra'el;
5
then you are to bring the man or woman who has done this wicked thing to your city gates, and stone that man or woman to death. ​
6
The death sentence is to be carried out only if there was testimony from two or three witnesses; he may not be sentenced to death on the testimony of only one witness. ​
7
The witnesses are to be the first to stone him to death; afterwards, all the people are to stone him. Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you. ​

The Central Judicial Authority

8
"If a case comes before you at your city gate which is too difficult for you to judge, concerning bloodshed, civil suit, personal injury or any other controversial issue; you are to get up, go to the place which ADONAI your God will choose, ​
9
and appear before the cohanim, who are L'vi'im, and the judge in office at the time. Seek their opinion, and they will render a verdict for you. ​
10
You will then act according to what they have told you there in that place which ADONAI will choose; you are to take care to act according to all their instructions.
11
In accordance with the Torah they teach you, you are to carry out the judgment they render, not turning aside to the right or the left from the verdict they declare to you.
12
Anyone presumptuous enough not to pay attention to the cohen appointed there to serve ADONAI your God or to the judge - that person must die. Thus you will exterminate such wickedness from Isra'el - ​
13
all the people will hear about it and be afraid to continue acting presumptuously.

Laws Governing the King

14
"When you have entered the land ADONAI your God is giving you, have taken possession of it and are living there, you may say, 'I want to have a king over me, like all the other nations around me.' ​
15
In that event, you must appoint as king the one whom ADONAI your God will choose. He must be one of your kinsmen, this king you appoint over you - you are forbidden to appoint a foreigner over you who is not your kinsman. ​
16
However, he is not to acquire many horses for himself or have the people return to Egypt to obtain more horses, inasmuch as ADONAI told you never to go back that way again. ​
17
Likewise, he is not to acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart will not turn away; and he is not to acquire excessive quantities of silver and gold. ​
18
"When he has come to occupy the throne of his kingdom, he is to write a copy of this Torah for himself in a scroll, from the one the cohanim and L'vi'im use. ​
19
It is to remain with him, and he is to read in it every day, as long as he lives; so that he will learn to fear ADONAI his God and keep all the words of this Torah and these laws and obey them; ​
20
so that he will not think he is better than his kinsmen; and so that he will not turn aside either to the right or to the left from the mitzvah. In this way he will prolong his own reign and that of his children in Isra'el. ​

Study Notes for Deuteronomy 17

Verse 1

Prohibition against offering blemished animals reinforces the theological principle that worshipers must give God only the best, symbolizing dedication and respect (cf. Mal. 1:8). The term 'abomination' links improper worship directly to covenant violation.

Verse 2

Idolatry is defined as transgressing the covenant, the foundational offense against the relationship with Yahweh. Worshipping the 'host of heaven' (celestial bodies) was a common Canaanite and Mesopotamian practice explicitly forbidden in Israel.

Verse 5

Stoning was the prescribed method for capital religious offenses, symbolizing the community’s collective responsibility to remove the evil and maintain the purity of the land.

Verse 6

This legal safeguard requiring two or three witnesses is crucial, establishing a high legal standard for capital punishment and protecting the accused against malicious or mistaken single testimonies.

Verse 7

The witnesses laying hands on the person first affirmed their testimony and demonstrated their commitment to the judicial process, ensuring accountability for their accusation.

Verse 8

This section addresses the need for a centralized, final judicial body to handle difficult or complex legal disputes (e.g., homicide, assault, major civil suits), ensuring consistent application of covenant law across the tribes.

Verse 9

Legal authority is vested in both the Levitical priests (guardians of the Law) and the appointed judge, demonstrating the necessary integration of religious and civil governance in Israel.

Verse 12

The penalty for judicial insubordination is death. This severe enforcement ensured respect for the final ruling of the central court, preventing anarchy and maintaining the integrity of the legal system.

Verse 14

Moses anticipates Israel's future desire for a monarchy (cf. 1 Sam. 8), providing divine regulations for the office before it is established. This shows that the monarchy was permitted, but strictly regulated by God’s covenant.

Verse 15

The king must be chosen by Yahweh and must be an Israelite ('from among thy brethren'). This prevents foreign rulers from imposing alien customs or compromising the nation’s covenant identity.

Verse 16

The prohibition against multiplying horses (military buildup) and reliance on Egypt commands Israel to trust in God for security, rather than foreign alliances or military might.

Verse 17

Restrictions on wives (to prevent political compromise and spiritual straying, cf. Solomon) and excessive wealth ensure the king remains humble and focused on serving the covenant, not personal power.

Verse 18

The requirement that the king personally write a copy of the Law ensures he is intimately familiar with the covenant duties and understands that he, too, is subject to God’s rule.

Verse 19

Daily reading of the Law was crucial for the king's spiritual formation, ensuring he ruled based on fear of the LORD and adherence to the statutes, not personal whim or political expediency.

Verse 20

The ultimate goal of the king's adherence to the Law is longevity for his reign and stability for the nation, achieved through humility and strict obedience to the divine commandments.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options