Deuteronomy 17:8-13

Difficult Cases

8 "If a case is too difficult for you-concerning bloodshed,^[a] lawsuits,^[b] or assaults^[c]-cases disputed at your gates,^[d] you must go up to the place the Lord your God chooses.

9 You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Ask, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

10 You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the Lord chooses. Be careful to do exactly as they instruct you.

11 You must abide by the instruction they give you and the verdict they announce to you. Do not turn to the right or the left from the decision they declare to you.

12 The person who acts arrogantly, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there serving the Lord your God or to the judge, must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

13 Then all the people will hear [about it], be afraid, and no longer behave arrogantly.

Deuteronomy 17:8-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 17

This chapter begins with a caution not to sacrifice anything to the Lord that is blemished or ill favoured, De 17:1, an order is given to put to death men or women guilty of idolatry, where it is clearly proved upon them, De 17:2-7 and it is directed that when cases are too hard for inferior judges to determine, they should be brought to Jerusalem to the priests, Levites, and judges, which formed the great consistory there, whose sentence was to be adhered unto on pain of death, De 17:8-13, and rules are given about the choice of a king, and he is informed what he must not do, and what he should do, De 17:14-20.

Footnotes

• [a]. Dt 19:1-13; 25:7; Ex 21:12-14,18-25; Nm 35:9-34
• [b]. Ex 22:6-14
• [c]. Ex 21:22-26; Lv 24:19-20
• [d]. Dt 21:19; 22:15