Deuteronomy 17

This chapter outlines important laws for the governance of Israel, particularly regarding proper worship, justice, and leadership. It addresses the importance of avoiding idolatry, the process of legal judgment, and the selection and responsibilities of a king. It emphasizes obedience to God's commands and the authority of the priests and judges.

Deuteronomy 17:1 (NKJV)
“You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.”

The offering of animals to God must be without blemish because anything less than perfect would be an insult to His holiness. This reflects the idea that God deserves the best of what we have to offer. A defective sacrifice symbolizes impurity, and offering it shows a lack of reverence for God’s standards.

Deuteronomy 17:2-3 (NKJV)
2 “If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing His covenant,
3 who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded,”

Idolatry is a serious violation of God’s covenant with Israel. Worshiping other gods, including celestial bodies like the sun or moon, is seen as direct rebellion against God's command to worship Him alone. This behavior reflects a heart that has turned away from God’s covenant, threatening the spiritual and moral integrity of the community.

Deuteronomy 17:4 (NKJV)
“and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,”

The leaders and community members are responsible for thoroughly investigating any reports of idolatry. This process ensures that justice is based on facts and not rumors or false accusations. Diligence in seeking the truth reflects the seriousness of maintaining purity within the nation.

Deuteronomy 17:5-7 (NKJV)
5 “then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones.
6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.”

The punishment for idolatry is death by stoning, emphasizing the gravity of this sin. However, the execution must be based on the testimony of at least two or three witnesses, ensuring fairness in judgment. The witnesses must also initiate the execution, which holds them accountable for their testimony, preventing false accusations. This strict process protects the community from the corrupting influence of idolatry while ensuring that justice is not administered lightly.

Deuteronomy 17:8-9 (NKJV)
8 “If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the Lord your God chooses.
9 And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.”

When cases become too difficult for local leaders to resolve, they must be taken to a higher authority—specifically, the priests and judges appointed by God. This structure provides a centralized judicial process, where spiritual leaders guide the application of God's law. By seeking guidance from the priests and Levites, the community ensures that their decisions align with God’s will.

Deuteronomy 17:10-11 (NKJV)
10 “You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the Lord chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you.
11 According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you.”

The decisions of the priests and judges must be obeyed without deviation. Their authority comes from God, and following their judgments ensures unity and fairness within the community. Disregarding their rulings undermines both the authority of God's law and the structure of justice that He established.

Deuteronomy 17:12 (NKJV)
“Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel.”

Those who refuse to obey the rulings of the priest or judge are seen as rebellious and a threat to the community’s order. Their disobedience leads to the death penalty, which serves as a deterrent to others and ensures that God’s justice is upheld in the land.

Deuteronomy 17:13 (NKJV)
“And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously.”

This law ensures that the community witnesses the consequences of rebellion against God’s appointed leaders. The fear of punishment serves to maintain order and reverence for God's law, discouraging others from acting arrogantly or disobeying rightful authority.

Deuteronomy 17:14-15 (NKJV)
14 “When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’
15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.”

God anticipates that Israel will one day ask for a king to rule over them, like the surrounding nations. However, the king must be chosen by God and must be an Israelite, not a foreigner. This ensures that the king will share in the values and covenant of the people, leading them according to God’s will rather than worldly standards.

Deuteronomy 17:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’
17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”

The king is commanded not to seek wealth, power, or political alliances that could lead the people back to Egypt or distract them from God. Accumulating horses, wives, or riches could corrupt the king’s heart and lead him away from God, as these pursuits symbolize reliance on worldly power rather than on God’s provision and protection.

Deuteronomy 17:18-19 (NKJV)
18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes,”

The king is required to personally write a copy of God’s law and read it daily. This ensures that he remains humble, obedient to God’s will, and guided by His commandments. By immersing himself in the law, the king can lead the people with wisdom and reverence for God, avoiding the pride and corruption often associated with political power.

Deuteronomy 17:20 (NKJV)
“that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

The purpose of the king’s obedience to the law is to prevent him from becoming prideful or ruling unjustly. By following God’s commandments, the king will lead with humility and integrity, ensuring stability and longevity for both his reign and the nation of Israel.