1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment:
10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall show thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible and is attributed to Moses. It is a collection of sermons and instructions given by Moses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In chapter 17, Moses continues to remind the Israelites of the laws and commandments given to them by God and emphasizes the importance of obedience and faithfulness. This chapter also discusses the establishment of a system of justice and leadership for the Israelites. The main themes of this chapter include obedience to God, justice, and the role of leaders in the community.
The first part of Deuteronomy chapter 17 focuses on the importance of obedience to God. Moses reminds the Israelites that they must follow all the laws and commandments given to them by God. He emphasizes that disobedience will result in punishment and separation from God. In verse 2, Moses states, "If there be found among you...that hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them...even that man or that woman, shall be put to death." This shows the seriousness of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from God.
Moses also warns the Israelites against following false prophets or anyone who claims to have a message from God but speaks against His laws. In verse 5, he says, "Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates...and shalt stone them with stones, till they die." This shows that God expects His people to discern the truth and not be deceived by false teachings.
Furthermore, Moses reminds the Israelites that they must not only follow God's laws themselves but also ensure that their community does the same. In verse 12, he says, "And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die." This shows the importance of holding each other accountable and not tolerating disobedience within the community.
The second part of Deuteronomy chapter 17 discusses the establishment of a system of justice for the Israelites. God commands the Israelites to appoint judges and officers in every city to administer justice and maintain order. In verse 8, Moses says, "If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose." This shows that God expects His people to resolve conflicts and disputes in a fair and just manner.
Moses also emphasizes the importance of following the decisions of the appointed judges and not showing partiality or taking bribes. In verse 9, he says, "And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment." This shows that the judges are to be respected and trusted in their decisions, as they are acting on behalf of God.
Furthermore, this chapter also discusses the punishment for those who commit crimes such as murder, adultery, and rebellion against authority. In verse 12, Moses says, "And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die." This shows that God expects His people to respect authority and follow the laws established for the community.
The final part of Deuteronomy chapter 17 focuses on the role of leaders in the community. God commands the Israelites to appoint a king to rule over them, but this king must be chosen by God and must follow His laws. In verse 15, Moses says, "Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother." This shows that God is the ultimate authority and chooses the leaders for His people.
Moses also outlines the responsibilities of the king, which include reading and following the laws of God and not turning away from them. In verse 18, he says, "And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites." This shows that the king is not above the laws of God and must be held accountable for his actions.
Furthermore, this chapter also discusses the role of the Levites, the priests of the community. They are responsible for teaching and interpreting the laws of God to the people. In verse 12, Moses says, "And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die." This shows that the priests have an important role in maintaining order and justice within the community.
The primary message of Deuteronomy chapter 17 is the importance of obedience to God and following His laws. The Israelites are reminded of the consequences of disobedience, such as punishment and separation from God. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of justice and the responsibility of leaders in maintaining order and resolving conflicts within the community.
Furthermore, this chapter shows that God is the ultimate authority and must be respected and obeyed above all else. The laws and commandments given by God are to be followed by all, including the leaders of the community. This chapter also highlights the importance of accountability and holding each other responsible for upholding God's laws.
Overall, Deuteronomy chapter 17 serves as a reminder to the Israelites, and to all believers, of the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of turning away from Him. It also emphasizes the need for justice and the role of leaders in maintaining order and upholding the laws of God within the community.
Share this page