UNROLL
Early morning in the hill country: a straight, pale footpath runs away up a long ridge between terraces, with narrower tracks branching off to the left and right into the scrub.

The Book of

Deuteronomy 17

Justice that needs two witnesses, a court for the hardest cases, and a king who must read God’s law every day of his life.

20 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–4Remember the wayFrom Horeb to Moab
  2. 5–11Love the LORDThe heart of the covenant
  3. 12–26Laws for the landWorship, justice, neighborChapter 17
  4. 27–30Blessing and curseChoose life
  5. 31–34Moses' farewellA song, a blessing, a death

Detestable Sacrifices

You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep with any defect or serious flaw, for that is detestable to the LORD your God.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Purge the Idolater

If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—

The law

Two or three witnesses

  1. Inquiry

    Investigate the report thoroughly

    and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly.

  2. Penalty

    If proven, put to death at the gates

    If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,

    you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death.

  3. Witnesses

    Two or three witnesses, never one

    On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.

  4. The witnesses’ hands first

    The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people.

  5. Purge

    Purge the evil from among you

    So you must purge the evil from among you.

Reflect

Thoroughly

Before anyone could be judged, Israel had to “investigate it thoroughly,” and a “lone witness” was never enough. God cares about truth even when feelings run high. Think of a story you heard about someone recently and were quick to believe. Write down what you actually know, and what you only heard. Then ask God to make you slow to judge and careful with other people’s names.

Courts of Law

If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you.

But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

Question

Quick question

Some cases were too hard for the judges in Israel’s towns.

Where did a case too hard for the local judges go?

Guidelines for a King

When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”

Moses
By lamplight in a plain room, a young king in a simple robe and gold circlet, seen from the side, copies with a reed pen onto a scroll turned away from view, while two Levitical priests in white linen hold the open original beside him.

When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, and he will not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or to the left, in order that he and his sons may reign many years over his kingdom in Israel.

0:33

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

In early morning light, a rolled scroll tied with a cord lies on a cushion on a plain wooden seat beside a clay lamp, worn smooth at the edges from daily use.

he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God

Deuteronomy 17:18–19

Pray

For those in authority

Israel’s king was to keep God’s law beside him and read it “all the days of his life,” so that his heart would “not be exalted above his countrymen.” Pray today for those who lead you: in government, at work, in your church and in your home. Ask God to keep them humble, honest and under His word. If you lead anyone, pray the same for yourself.

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Deuteronomy 17

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A verse to carry with you

When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this instruction and these statutes.

Deuteronomy 17:18–19

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