1 The things sacrificed must be sound. 2 Idolaters must be slain. 8 Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges. 12 The contemner of that determination must die. 14 The election, 16 and duty of a king.
Deu 17:1 Do not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.
Defect.
An imperfect sacrifice would not properly typify Christ (see 1 Peter 1:19). The law regarding the perfection required in sacrificial animals is given in detail in Lev. 22:17–25. See also Mal. 1:7–12, where the prophet complains of imperfect sacrifices being offered, with the connivance of a corrupt priesthood.
Anything less than the best is unworthy of being placed in God’s service. God is entitled to man’s best; and to withhold it is to show contempt for Him.
It is presumptuous to offer God that which is of little value, or which costs us little or nothing. Any evil favouredness. Literally, “anything evil.” This explains the preceding sentence, referring to disease or illness in an animal.
Deu 17:2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the LORD gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God in violation of his covenant, Deu 17:3 and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky,
The primary, and in many ways the worst, form of idolatry was the worship of the heavenly bodies (see Deut. 4:19; Job 31:26, 27).
Deu 17:4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
Church discipline must be based on certainties, not on rumors. Hearsay should not be accepted as evidence.
If one presumes to make an accusation, he should be required to provide proof in substantiation of it before action is taken (see on v. 6).
Deu 17:5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.
Here, in rooms built for the purpose, elders, judges, and the king sat officially (see on Gen. 19:1).
Stone them. See Lev. 24:14; Num. 15:36; Deut. 22:24; Acts 7:58, 59.
Deu 17:6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Witnesses. A person was not to be condemned on the testimony of a lone witness (Num. 35:30), lest spite or the desire for revenge should influence a decision.
Deu 17:7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.
The hands. See ch. 13:9. This place a grave responsibility upon the witnesses. The sin of blood guiltiness would rest upon one who bore false witness, for he would become the chief executioner.
This law tended to foster truthfulness among witnesses, and care in the making of accusations.
Deu 17:8 If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults—take them to the place the LORD your God will choose.
Too difficult. That is, for the local courts that were to be established in all their cities (ch. 16:18). The Hebrew reads, literally, “too wonderful,” “surpassing,” or “unusual.”
The same word appears in 2 Sam. 1:26; Ps. 118:23; Prov. 30:18; Micah 7:15. The reference is to some point of law that was not clear to the local judges.
Blood. That is, the shedding of blood that resulted in death—was it accidental? premeditated? a willful murder? (see Ex. 21:12–14). The decision in such a case would determine whether or not the accused would be admitted to a city of refuge.
lawsuits. Cases that could not be settled in the lower courts, and therefore would be transferred to the Levitical courts.
Deu 17:9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.
The priests. Compare chs. 19:17; 21:5. The king (2 Sam. 14:13; 15:2) or some person appointed by him (2 Sam. 15:3) might act as judge. The priests were the custodians of the law (Mal. 2:7), and the king and his appointees were the executors of it.
Deu 17:10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do.
Many marital alliances entered into by the latter were apparently motivated by political interests (1 Kings 11:1, 3). Silver and gold. Wealth is not of itself evil. It can, however, prove a snare when it takes the place of God in a man’s heart and life.
The private and public life of the king was limited by definite conditions. The things for which the king was to be outstanding are given in the following verses.
Deu 17:18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.
A copy. Literally, “write himself a duplicate.” One great distinction that was to mark the ruler of Israel was his singlehearted devotion to the divine precepts (see Joshua 8:32). Making such a “copy” would demonstrate his faith in the inspired Word, and his determination to be guided by it.
This would strengthen the people’s confidence that their earthly king was humbly in submission to the King of kings.
Deu 17:19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees
Study of and meditation upon God’s Word were to characterize the monarch (see Joshua 1:8; Ps. 1:2; 119:1, 2, 9, 15, 16, 36).
Revere. Literally, “tremble,” not in the sense of terror, but of awe and reverence. This represents supreme and profound respect.
Deu 17:20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
A man needs the grace of God to avoid becoming high-minded. It is not easy for a king or other leader to think of himself as the servant of his people. Prolong his days. See ch. 4:26, 40.
Only a truly converted man could order his life according to the obligations outlined for a monarch in this chapter. Guided by the divine instructions recorded in the book of the law, he would become a pattern to his people, a living transcript of God’s will for men.