CHAPTER XVII _All sacrifices to be without blemish_, 1. _Of persons consisted of idolatry and their punishment_, 2-7. _Difficult matters in judgment to be laid before the priests and_ _judges, and to be determined by them; and all to submit to their_ _decision_, 8-13. _The_ king _that may be c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:4. _IF IT BE TOLD THEE_] In a private way by any confidential person. _And thou hast heard_ of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. _And_ hast _inquired diligently _- sought to find out the truth of the report by the most care... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:6. _TWO WITNESSES_] ONE might be deceived, or be prejudiced or malicious; therefore God required _two_ substantial witnesses for the support of the charge.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:8. _IF THERE ARISE A MATTER TOO HARD FOR THEE_] These directions are given to the common magistrates, who might not be able to judge of or apply the law in all cases that might be brought before them. The priests and Levites, who were lawyers by birth and continual practice, wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:12. _THE MAN THAT WILL DO PRESUMPTUOUSLY_] The man who refused to abide by this final determination forfeited his life, as being then in a state of _rebellion_ against the highest authority, and consequently the public could have no pledge for his conduct.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:15. One _FROM AMONG THY BRETHREN SHALT THOU SET KING OVER_ _THEE_] It was on the ground of this command that the Jews proposed that insidious question to our Lord, _Is it lawful to give tribute_ _to Caesar_, OR NO? Matthew 22:17; for they were then under the authority of a _fore... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:16. _HE SHALL NOT MULTIPLY HORSES_] As _horses_ appear to have been generally furnished by Egypt, God prohibits these, 1. Lest there should be such commerce with Egypt as might lead to idolatry. 2. Lest the people might depend on a well-appointed _cavalry_ as a means of securi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:17. _NEITHER SHALL HE MULTIPLY WIVES_] For this would necessarily lead to _foreign alliances_, and be the means of introducing the _manners_ and _customs_ of other nations, and their _idolatry_ also. Solomon sinned against this precept, and brought ruin on himself and on the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:18. _HE SHALL WRITE HIM A COPY OF THIS LAW_] משנה התורה הזאת _mishneh hattorah hazzoth_, an _iteration_ or _duplicate_ of _this law_; translated by the Septuagint, το δευτερονομιον τουτο _this deuteronomy_. From this version both the Vulgate Latin and all the modern versions hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:19. _AND IT SHALL BE WITH HIM, C._] It was the surest way to bring the king to an acquaintance with the Divine law to oblige him to write out a fair copy of it with his own hand, in which he was to read daily. This was essentially necessary, as these laws of God were all permane... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 17:20. _HE, AND HIS CHILDREN, IN THE MIDST OF ISRAEL._] From this verse it has been inferred that the crown of Israel was designed to be _hereditary_, and this is very probable; for long experience has proved to almost all the nations of the world that _hereditary succession_ in th... [ Continue Reading ]