# Deuteronomy 17 đź“–: Laws for Kings and Courts
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[[-Deuteronomy Overview]] | [[Deuteronomy 16]] | [[Deuteronomy 18]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] You must not sacrifice to him a bull or sheep that has a blemish or any other defect, because that is considered offensive to the Lord your God.
[[#Verse 02.]] Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you in one of your villages that the Lord your God is giving you who sins before the Lord your God and breaks his covenantÂ
[[#Verse 03.]] by serving other gods and worshiping them—the sun, moon, or any other heavenly bodies that I have not permitted you to worship.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel,Â
[[#Verse 05.]] you must bring to your city gates that man or woman who has done this wicked thing—that very man or woman—and you must stone that person to death.Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â At the testimony of two or three witnesses the person must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
[[#Verse 07.]] The witnesses must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.
### Appeal to a Higher Court
[[#Verse 08.]] If a matter is too difficult for you to judge—bloodshed, legal claim, or assault—matters of controversy in your villages—you must leave there and go up to the place the Lord your God chooses.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â You will go to the Levitical priests and the judge in office in those days and seek a solution; they will render a verdict.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] You must then do as they have determined at that place the Lord chooses. Be careful to do just as you are taught.Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â You must do what you are instructed, and the verdict they pronounce to you, without fail. Do not deviate right or left from what they tell you.
[[#Verse 12.]] The person who pays no attention to the priest currently serving the Lord your God there, or to the judge—that person must die, so that you may purge evil from Israel.Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and not be so presumptuous again.
### Provision for Kingship
[[#Verse 14.]] When you come to the land the Lord your God is giving you and take it over and live in it and then say, “I will select a king like all the nations surrounding me,”Â
[[#Verse 15.]] you must select without fail a king whom the Lord your God chooses. From among your fellow citizens you must appoint a king—you may not designate a foreigner who is not one of your fellow Israelites.
[[#Verse 16.]] Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the Lord has said you must never again return that way.
[[#Verse 17.]] Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] When he sits on his royal throne he must make a copy of this law on a scroll given to him by the Levitical priests.
[[#Verse 19.]] It must be with him constantly, and he must read it as long as he lives, so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and observe all the words of this law and these statutes and carry them out.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] Then he will not exalt himself above his fellow citizens or turn from the commandments to the right or left, and he and his descendants will enjoy many years ruling over his kingdom in Israel.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Greek title "Deuteronomy" comes from the Septuagint's wording of 17:18, "a copy of this law."
2. The king had to be an Israelite, not a foreigner (17:15).
3. The king was not to multiply horses, wives, or silver and gold (17:16-17).
4. Solomon broke all three warnings (1 Kings 10:26-28; 11:3).
5. Unlike many ancient kings who saw themselves as above the law, Israel's king was to live under it (17:19-20).
6. Witnesses had to be the first to carry out the sentence (17:7), which discouraged false testimony.
7. Paul quotes the phrase "purge the evil from among you" (17:7) in 1 Corinthians 5:13.
8. The two or three witnesses principle appears in the New Testament (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1).
9. Difficult cases were taken to the priests and the judge at the central sanctuary (17:8-9).
10. Animals offered to the Lord had to be without defect (17:1).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true King who delights in God's law and does not exalt Himself over His brothers (17:19-20). Though He is Lord of all, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death (Philippians 2:6-8).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The king was to write his own copy of the law and read it all his life (17:18-19). How does daily time in Scripture guard leaders today?
2. Horses, wives, and wealth were the three warnings to Israel's king (17:16-17). What are the modern versions of those temptations?
3. Serious judgments required two or three witnesses (17:6). Why is this principle still wise in relationships and in the church?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 6: A matter must be established by two or three witnesses.
- đź“– verses 18-19: The king must write a copy of the law and read it all his life.
- đź“– verse 20: The king must not exalt himself above his fellow citizens.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[1 Kings 10#Verse 26.|1 Kings 10:26-29]] - Solomon multiplies horses and gold.
- đź”— [[1 Kings 11#Verse 01.|1 Kings 11:1-4]] - Solomon's wives turn his heart away.
- đź”— [[Matthew 18#Verse 16.|Matthew 18:16]] - Every matter established by two or three witnesses.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 05#Verse 13.|1 Corinthians 5:13]] - Remove the evil person from among you.
- đź”— [[Philippians 02#Verse 06.|Philippians 2:6-8]] - Christ humbled Himself.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź“‚ Internal Notes