Deuteronomy 17
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Overview
Deuteronomy 17 is a chapter that addresses a variety of important issues, including laws against idolatry, judicial procedures, and guidelines for the future kings of Israel. It provides a framework for justice, righteousness, and godly leadership within the community. Key points include:
Punishment for Idolatry: The chapter begins with a strict prohibition against idolatry. If anyone is found worshipping other gods, a thorough investigation must be conducted. If the accusation is true, the guilty party is to be stoned to death, signifying the seriousness with which idolatry is regarded in Israelite society.
Judicial Procedures for Difficult Cases: For difficult cases that arise within local courts, such as those involving homicide, legal disputes, or assault, the matter should be taken to the Levitical priests and the judge in office at that time. Their verdict is final, and anyone who refuses to obey their decision is to be put to death.
Guidelines for Kings: The chapter also lays down guidelines for a future king of Israel. The king is not to acquire many horses, wives, or excessive silver and gold. Importantly, the king must write for himself a copy of the Law, approved by the Levitical priests. This is to ensure that he reads it all his life, learns to fear the LORD, and faithfully observes all the words of the Law.
Preventing the King from Turning Away: The instructions for the king aim to prevent him from turning away from the commandments, ensuring that he does not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and that he and his descendants reign for many years.
Principles of Justice and Governance: The chapter reflects foundational principles for justice and governance in Israel. The emphasis is on adhering to God’s Law, ensuring fair and righteous judgment, and setting standards for future leaders.
Deuteronomy 17 is significant for its emphasis on upholding God’s Law in all aspects of national life, from judicial matters to the behavior of the king. The guidelines provided are aimed at creating a just, equitable, and God-fearing society, where the leaders and the people alike are bound by the same divine laws and principles.
Punishment for Idolatry: The chapter begins with a strict prohibition against idolatry. If anyone is found worshipping other gods, a thorough investigation must be conducted. If the accusation is true, the guilty party is to be stoned to death, signifying the seriousness with which idolatry is regarded in Israelite society.
Judicial Procedures for Difficult Cases: For difficult cases that arise within local courts, such as those involving homicide, legal disputes, or assault, the matter should be taken to the Levitical priests and the judge in office at that time. Their verdict is final, and anyone who refuses to obey their decision is to be put to death.
Guidelines for Kings: The chapter also lays down guidelines for a future king of Israel. The king is not to acquire many horses, wives, or excessive silver and gold. Importantly, the king must write for himself a copy of the Law, approved by the Levitical priests. This is to ensure that he reads it all his life, learns to fear the LORD, and faithfully observes all the words of the Law.
Preventing the King from Turning Away: The instructions for the king aim to prevent him from turning away from the commandments, ensuring that he does not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and that he and his descendants reign for many years.
Principles of Justice and Governance: The chapter reflects foundational principles for justice and governance in Israel. The emphasis is on adhering to God’s Law, ensuring fair and righteous judgment, and setting standards for future leaders.
Deuteronomy 17 is significant for its emphasis on upholding God’s Law in all aspects of national life, from judicial matters to the behavior of the king. The guidelines provided are aimed at creating a just, equitable, and God-fearing society, where the leaders and the people alike are bound by the same divine laws and principles.
Deuteronomy 17
1 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.
2 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,
3 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;
4 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:
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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;
9 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:
10 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:
11 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.
12 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.
13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
14 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;
15 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.
16 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.
🔑 Devotion 1 | 🔑 Devotion 2
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18 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:
19 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:
20 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.
End of Deuteronomy 17
1 Year Plan: Mar 21 - Deut 16, Deut 17, Luk 13
2 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,
3 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;
4 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:
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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;
9 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:
10 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:
11 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.
12 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.
13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
14 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;
15 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.
16 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.
🔑 Devotion 1 | 🔑 Devotion 2
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18 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:
19 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:
20 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.
End of Deuteronomy 17
1 Year Plan: Mar 21 - Deut 16, Deut 17, Luk 13
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