Deut. 17 They are not to offer blemished sacrifices, Deut. 17:1. Idolaters are to be put to death, Deut. 17:2–7. Doubts in difficult matters to be resolved by priests and judges, Deut. 17:8–13. To choose a king of their own brethren, and not a stranger, Deut. 17:14–15. The duty of their king, Deut.

Any bullock or sheep, i.e. either greater or smaller sacrifices, all being comprehended under the two most eminent kinds. See Lev. 22:20–21. An abomination, i.e. abominable, as Deut. 18:12.

Man or woman; the weakness and tenderness of that sex shall not excuse her sin, nor prevent her punishment. In transgressing his covenant, i.e. in idolatry, as it is explained Deut.

Those glorious creatures, which are to be admired as the wonderful works of God, but not to be set up in God’s stead, nor worshipped as gods: see Job 31:26.

Told thee by any person, thou shalt not slight so much as a rumour or flying report of so gross a crime. Inquired diligently, by sending messengers, examining witnesses, &c.

At the mouth, i.e. upon the testimony delivered upon oath before the magistrates. Three witnesses, to wit, credible and competent witnesses. The Jews rejected the testimonies of madmen. children, women, servants, familiar friends, or enemies, persons of dissolute lives and evil fame.

Shall be first upon him; either laid upon his head to design the person, or stretched out to throw the first stone at him. God thus ordered it, partly for the caution of witnesses, that if they had through malice or wrath accused him falsely, they might now be afraid to imbrue their hands in…

Too hard for thee; he speaks to the inferior magistrates, who were erected in several cities, as appears by the opposition of these to them at Jerusalem. If, saith he, thou hast not skill or confidence to determine so weighty and difficult a cause. Between blood and blood, i.e.

Unto the priests the Levites, i.e. unto the great council, which it is here denominated from, because it consisted chiefly of the priests and Levites, as being the best expositors of the laws of God, by which all those controversies mentioned Deut. 17:8 were to be decided.

Thou shalt, i.e. thou shalt pass sentence; for he speaks to the inferior magistrates, as was before noted, who were to give sentence, and came hither to be advised about it. Thou shalt observe to do.

According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee: these words are a manifest limitation of the foregoing assertion, that they were to do according to all that the judge or judges informed him. And they seem to limit and regulate, 1.

That will do presumptuously, i.e. that will proudly and obstinately oppose the sentence given against him. This is opposite to ignorance and error, Ex. 21:13–14. The evil; either, 1. The evil thing, that scandal, that pernicious example. Or, 2.

He only foresees and foretells what they would do, but doth not seem to approve of it, because when they did this thing for this very reason here alleged, he declares his utter dislike of it, 1 Sam. 8:7.

Thou shalt set him, i.e. appoint, or install. If you will choose a king, which I shall suffer you to do, I command you to mind this in your choice. Whom the Lord shall choose, approve of, or appoint. So it was in Saul, and in David.

He shall not multiply horses to himself, to wit, excessively, beyond what the state and majesty of his place required. Hereby God would prevent many sins and mischiefs, as, 1. Pride of heart, and contempt of his people. 2.

Neither shall he multiply wives, as the manner of other kings was. That his heart turn not away, to wit, from God and his law; either, 1. To idolatry and superstition, to which women are ofttimes prone, and especially such women as he was likely to choose, even the daughters of neighbouring and…

He shall write; either with his own hand, as the Jews say; or, at least, by his command and procurement. Out of that which is before the priests the Levites, i.e. out of the original, which was carefully kept by the priests in the sanctuary, Deut.

All the days of his life, i.e. diligently and constantly; neither the greatness of his place, nor the weight and multitude, of his business, shall excuse or hinder him.

That his heart be not lifted up; he intimates, that the Scriptures, diligently read and studied, are a powerful and probable means to keep him humble, because they show him that, though a king, he is subject to a higher Monarch, to whom he must give an account of all his administrations and…