---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Deuteronomy 17"
description: "CHAPTER 17   :-. THINGS
SACRIFICED MUST
BE SOUND. 1. Thou shalt not sacrifice . . .
any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish—Under the name of
bullock we"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/deuteronomy/17"
---

CHAPTER 17

. THINGS
SACRIFICED MUST
BE SOUND.

**1. Thou shalt not sacrifice . . .
any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish**—Under the name of
bullock were comprehended bulls, cows, and calves; under that of
sheep, rams, lambs, kids, he- and she-goats. An ox, from mutilation,
was inadmissible. The qualifications required in animals destined for
sacrifice are described ([Exodus 12:5](../../../kjv/exodus/12/5);
[Leviticus 1:3](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/3)).
[Leviticus 1:3](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/3). IDOLATERS MUST
BE SLAIN.

**2-7. If there be found among you . .
. man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness**—The grand object
contemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge and
worship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whether
of the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called "a
transgression of His covenant." No rank or sex could palliate
this crime. Every reported case, even a flying rumor of the
perpetration of so heinous an offense, was to be judicially examined;
and if proved by the testimony of competent witnesses, the offender
was to be taken without the gates and stoned to death, the witnesses
casting the first stone at him. The object of this special
arrangement was partly to deter the witnesses from making a rash
accusation by the prominent part they had to act as executioners, and
partly to give a public assurance that the crime had met its due
punishment.
. THE PRIESTS
AND JUDGES TO
DETERMINE CONTROVERSIES.

**8-13. If there arise a matter too
hard for thee in judgment**—In all civil or criminal cases, where
there was any doubt or difficulty in giving a decision, the local
magistrates were to submit them by reference to the tribunal of the
Sanhedrim—the supreme council, which was composed partly of civil
and partly of ecclesiastical persons. "The priests and Levites,"
should rather be "the priests—the Levites"; that is, the
Levitical priests, including the high priest, who were members of the
legislative assembly; and who, as forming one body, are called "the
judge." Their sittings were held in the neighborhood of the
sanctuary because in great emergencies the high priest had to consult
God by Urim ([Numbers 27:21](../../../kjv/numbers/27/21)). From
their judgment there was no appeal; and if a person were so perverse
and refractory as to refuse obedience to their sentences, his
conduct, as inconsistent with the maintenance of order and good
government, was then to be regarded and punished as a capital crime.
[Numbers 27:21](../../../kjv/numbers/27/21). THE ELECTION
AND DUTY OF A KING.

**14. When thou . . . shalt say, I
will set a king over me**—In the following passage Moses
*prophetically* announces a revolution which should occur at a
later period in the national history of Israel. No sanction or
recommendation was indicated; on the contrary, when the popular
clamor had effected that constitutional change on the theocracy by
the appointment of a king, the divine disapproval was expressed in
the most unequivocal terms ([1 Samuel 8:7](../../../kjv/1-samuel/8/7)).
Permission at length was granted, God reserving to Himself the
nomination of the family and the person who should be elevated to the
regal dignity ([1 Samuel 9:15](../../../kjv/1-samuel/9/15); [1 Samuel 10:24](../../../kjv/1-samuel/10/24);
[1 Samuel 16:12](../../../kjv/1-samuel/16/12); [1 Chronicles 28:4](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/28/4)).
In short, Moses foreseeing that his ignorant and fickle countrymen,
insensible to their advantages as a peculiar people, would soon wish
to change their constitution and be like other nations, provides to a
certain extent for such an emergency and lays down the principles on
which a king in Israel must act. He was to possess certain
indispensable requisites. He was to be an Israelite, of the same race
and religion, to preserve the purity of the established worship, as
well as be a type of Christ, a spiritual king, one of their brethren.

**15. thou mayest not set a stranger
over thee, which is not thy brother**—that is, by their free and
voluntary choice. But God, in the retributions of His providence, did
allow foreign princes to usurp the dominion ([Jeremiah 38:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38/17);
[Matthew 22:17](../../../kjv/matthew/22/17)).

**16. he shall not multiply horses to
himself**—The use of these animals was not absolutely prohibited,
nor is there any reason to conclude that they might not be employed
as part of the state equipage. But the multiplication of horses would
inevitably lead to many evils, to increased intercourse with foreign
nations, especially with Egypt, to the importation of an animal to
which the character of the country was not suited, to the
establishment of an Oriental military despotism, to proud and pompous
parade in peace, to a dependence upon Egypt in time of war, and a
consequent withdrawal of trust and confidence in God. ([2 Samuel 8:4](../../../kjv/2-samuel/8/4);
[1 Kings 10:26](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/26); [2 Chronicles 1:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/1/16);
[2 Chronicles 9:28](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/9/28); [Isaiah 31:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/3)).

**17. Neither shall he multiply wives
to himself, that his heart turn not away**—There were the
strongest reasons for recording an express prohibition on this point,
founded on the practice of neighboring countries in which polygamy
prevailed, and whose kings had numerous harems; besides, the monarch
of Israel was to be absolutely independent of the people and had
nothing but the divine law to restrain his passions. The mischievous
effects resulting from the breach of this condition were exemplified
in the history of Solomon and other princes, who, by trampling on the
restrictive law, corrupted themselves as well as the nation.
**neither shall he greatly
multiply . . . silver and gold**—that is, the kings were
forbidden to accumulate money for private purposes.

**18-20. he shall write him a copy of
this law in a book**—The original scroll of the ancient
Scriptures was deposited in the sanctuary under the strict custody of
the priests (see on [Deuteronomy 17:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/17/3);
[Deuteronomy 17:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/17/3)). Each monarch, on his
accession, was to be furnished with a true and faithful copy, which
he was to keep constantly beside him, and daily peruse it, that his
character and sentiments being cast into its sanctifying mould, he
might discharge his royal functions in the spirit of faith and piety,
of humility and a love or righteousness.

**20. that he may prolong his days in
his kingdom, he and his children**—From this it appears that the
crown in Israel was to be hereditary, unless forfeited by personal
crime.

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