Deuteronomy 17:15-20

15 Be sure that the man you choose to be king is the one whom the Lord has chosen. He must be one of your own people; do not make a foreigner your king.

16 The king is not to have a large number of horses for his army, and he is not to send people to Egypt to buy horses, because the Lord has said that his people are never to return there. ¹

17 The king is not to have many wives, because this would make him turn away from the Lord; and he is not to make himself rich with silver and gold. ²

18 When he becomes king, he is to have a copy of the book of God's laws and teachings made from the original copy kept by the levitical priests.

19 He is to keep this book near him and read from it all his life, so that he will learn to honor the Lord and to obey faithfully everything that is commanded in it.

20 This will keep him from thinking that he is better than other Israelites and from disobeying the Lord's commands in any way. Then he will reign for many years, and his descendants will rule Israel for many generations.

Deuteronomy 17:15-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. 17.16 1 K 10.28;2 Chronicles 1.16; 9.28.
• 2. 17.17 a 1 K 11.1-8; b 1 K 10.14-22, 27;2 Chronicles 1.15; 9.27.

Footnotes

• [a]. to buy horses; [or] in exchange for horses.