Deuteronomy 17:15-20

15 Then thou shalt make him kinge ouer the, whom the Lorde thi God shal chose. One of thi brethern must thou make kinge ouer the, and mayst not sett a straunger ouer the which is not of thi brethern.

16 But in ani wyse let hi not holde to many horsses, that he bringe not the people agayne to Egipte thorow the multitude of horsses, for as moch as the Lorde hath sayed vnto you: ye shall hence forth goo no moare agayne that waye.

17 Also he shall not haue to many wyues, lest his hert turne awaye, nether shall he gather him syluer and godlde to moch.

18 And when he is seten vppon the seate off his kingdome, he shall write him out this seconde lawe in a boke takynge a copye of the preastes the leuites.

19 And it shalbe with him and he shall reade there in all dayes of his lyfe that he maye lerne to feare the Lorde his God for to kepe all the wordes of this lawe ad these ordinaunces for to doo them:

20 that his hert aryse not aboue his brethern and that he turne not from the commaundment: ether to the righte hande or to the lifte: that both he ad his childern maye prolonge their dayes in his kingdome in Israel.

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.