Deuteronomy 17

God alone by virtue of his sovereignty, could dispense with the execution of this sentence of the Law, as he did in the case of David (2 Samuel 12:13), but as to the people, they were prohibited on any account to dispense with it, or forbear the execution of it (Numbers 35:31).…

They suppose the Apostle useth this expression, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], to denote some especial chapter or place in the Law. This they conjecture to be that of Deuteronomy 17:18–19. And it shall be, that when He (the King to be chosen) shall sit on the Throne of his Kingdom,…

Come we next to the supreme court. That there was a high ecclesiastical Sanedrim, distinct from the civil Sanedrim, is observed by Pelargus on Deuteronomy 17, and S[p]ingius ad bonam fidem Sibrandi, pag. 261 & seq., beside many others cited before, part. 1, chap. 11. And that it…

And his mistake is grossest of all, in imagining, that they had no other copies of the Law or Scripture, but what was so laid up in the side of the Ark. The whole people being commanded to study in it continually, and the King in special, to write out a Copy of it with his own h…

Secondly, in this commandment other sorts of particulars are forbidden, as all means, occasions, or appurtenances of idolatry, whereby some show, or remembrance or reverence is kept (Psalm 16:4). As all marriages, conjunctions or near familiarity with idolaters (2 Corinthians 6:…

And you shall find a mighty power in it to bear fruit, as if you were planted by the rivers of waters, for the Spirit of God breathing in the word, and your hearts sucking it up, and by meditating upon it, you grow in more knowledge in the object of your faith, in the rootedness…

1. Why three? So great an action as this was needed valuable testimony, for the law says in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every thing shall be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Now Christ would go to the utmost of the law, and would have not two only but three witnesses, as…

Therefore we may not swell in pride for outward things. The king must not lift up his heart against his brethren (Deuteronomy 17:20). Rich men (says Paul) must not be high-minded (1 Timothy 6:17).

The second answer is, that God did not approve the polygamy of the fathers, or commend it, but did only tolerate it, as a lesser evil, for the preventing of a greater. This toleration appears, in that God commanded that the king must not multiply his wives (Deuteronomy 17:17), a…

Here is our limit; we may not desire to be rich (verse 9). The king himself must not multiply his gold, and silver (Deuteronomy 17:17), and yet has he more need of gold and silver, than any private man. 4. There must be a moderation in the spending of our goods: contrary to the…

3. for men of the same country. Thus all the Jews are called brethren one to another (Deuteronomy 17:15), From among your brethren shall you make a king over you, and (Deuteronomy 23:19), You shall not give to usury to your brother, and (Romans 9:1), Paul says, he could wish him…

For they had turned them from the confidence which they ought to have had in God: it being the custom of Princes to solicit their neighbors, and offering them help, to the end they may use them afterward in the like case. But God had forbidden the Jews to go down into Egypt for…

In which respect it is no marvel that our Prophet is so earnest in rebuking of them for so monstrous an outrage. Their very going down into Egypt simply considered in itself deserved a sharp reprehension, because God had forbidden them so to do (Deuteronomy 17:16, 28), but the o…

Our Lord reckoned it enough to select three witnesses, because that is the number which the Law has laid down for proving anything; at the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses, (Deuteronomy 17:6.) The difference as to time ought not to give us uneasiness.

18. That every one write him a Copy of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:19). 19. That the King moreover write out another for himself as King (Deuteronomy 17:28). 20. That at our eating of meat we give thanks, or bless God (Deuteronomy 8:10).

1. In things concerning the house and worship of God (Zechariah 3:7). 2. In hard and difficult cases, he joined with the judge or ruler, in judging between men according to the law (Deuteronomy 17:12). 3. He was always a member of the Sanhedrim.

Therefore, as before Job joined counselors with kings, so here he joins gold with princes; the next expedient for princes to counsel and wisdom, are gold and treasures. We find indeed, that God gives it in charge to the kings of Israel, concerning their gathering of treasures, t…

Ways of peaceable conclusion there are but these two certain: the one, a sentence of judicial division, given by authority appointed within ourselves; the other, the like kind of sentence given by a more universal authority. The former of which two ways God himself in the law pr…

By Samuel Willard, Minister of the Gospel, and Teacher of a Church in Boston, N.E. Deut. 17:13. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously. Boston, Printed by B. Green, & J. Allen.

Mercy] The former word teaches us how great the change is that is wrought by the calling of God, this teaches us how free it is; the people of God, that is the good attained in the change, obtained mercy, that is the spring from where it flows; it is implied indeed in the words…

If you would know whether or not you are the children of God, see that of the Apostle (Romans 8:16): The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. As under the Law, in the mouth of two witnesses every doubtful thing was to be established (Deut…

Therefore if one have lost his first love, his first beauty and color, let him go to the word and it will bring it again, because it takes away the sickness that takes away the color, only some cautions must be observed. First, It must be constantly read, it is not enough when w…

But indeed, a not insignificant question arises here: how are those said to have sinned who appear to have asked for a king according to God's plan? For God had once spoken through Moses in Deuteronomy 17: 'Only set over yourself a king whom the Lord your God shall choose,' etc.…

For those who sit at the helm receive from prescribed laws what their duty is, with God himself as teacher and master. For in Deuteronomy 17 God prescribes what the future right of the king shall be, as we shall see below. But there is another kind of right, namely with respect…

In favor of this sense it may be alleged, 1. That certainly the king was bound to study the law of God, as you shall see (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). When he sits 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 pri…

By judgments is meant the precepts and directions of the word, as invested with threatenings and promises; for so the word contains every man's doom: not only the execution of God's providence, but the word shows what will become of a man. Now these I have laid before me; that i…

1. Doctrine: That nothing is so necessary for the potentates of the world to know, as God's testimonies. The King of Israel was to write a copy of the law of God in a book, and to have it ever before him, that he might read therein, and learn to fear the Lord his God (Deuteronom…

The word signifies either to turn aside, or to turn back. Sometimes it is put for turning aside to the right hand or to the left: as (Deuteronomy 17:11): You shall not decline from the way which they shall show to you, to the right hand or to the left. Sometimes for turning back…

[illegible], as Hierocles, to be banished from God, and the divine life, is the worst of deaths. 2 'Tis a curse, an accursed state, to be under the curse of God; as (Matthew 25:41) not only depart from me, but depart you cursed: There's not the least dram of blessing or blessedn…

Therefore the Lord in his infinite wisdom, does so temper the sweetness of his mercy, and the severity of his wrath, in the recovery of a lost and forlorn wretch; riches of mercy to the soul to save that, rigor of severity against the loathsomeness of sin to destroy that; so tha…

The magistrate's duty qua magistrate in matters of religion proved, and yet with a difference of the Christian and heathen magistrate's power in such matters. p. 42, 43, 44 The commands in the Old Testament for magistrates punishing in matters of the first Table, as Exodus 22:13…

Besides the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most learned Protestant Divines, Calvin, Philip Melancton, Beza, Peter Martyr, Zanchius, Bullinger, Musculus, Chemnitius, Gerardus, Bucanus, Bilson, Cartwright, Professores Leydenses, Voetius, Triglandus, that the care o…

And that Prophet, or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the Land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the Lord your God comman…

That in Deuteronomy 13 is to be compared with this Zechariah 13:3, where we find the same things, almost the same words used in a prophecy of the times of the Gospel, the meaning of which is not that his Father or Mother should presently run a Knife into him, but that though the…

The complaints, prohibitions, comminations, with the commands, directions, cautions against giving way to, tolerating of and following many wayes in religion, and for contending for the Faith, buying the truth, &c. though delivered, and run in generall, they bind (as other Scrip…

For she renounces God himself, the King of kings, she leaves the society of his church and people, she binds herself in league with the Devil — and therefore if any offender among men ought to suffer death for his deed, much more ought she, and that of due desert. The second rea…

Love will be apt to grow wanton, if it be not poised with holy fear. No better Curb or Antidote against sin, than fear, Deuteronomy 17:13. They shall fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Riches are not absolutely and per se good, and therefore not simply to be desired. We may not seek great things for ourselves; they who have most need of them may not greatly multiply them to themselves (Deuteronomy 17:17). Cyrus esteemed himself more rich in the hearts and love…

For every child of God is a child of promise: you say, you are weary of sin, and have come to Christ, and blessed are they that seek God, their hearts shall live for ever, etc. It is well; these promises will bear you out, for there is no day you read the Scripture, as daily you…

The reasons of this answer are these. First (Deuteronomy 17:16-17), the commandment is given to the King, that has most need of abundance, that he should not multiply his horses or his silver or his gold. That which the King may not do, the subjects ought much less to do; and th…

And the honor due to them is, without all contempt, in meekness of spirit, to respect them as brethren. This duty the Lord commands expressly to the King; That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren (Deuteronomy 17:20). The same was the practice of Job, who says of himsel…

God's bestowing special spiritual mercies on a person at such a time, is no sign that he approves of every thing that he sees in him at that time. David had very much of the presence of God while he lived in polygamy: and Solomon had some very high favors, and peculiar smiles of…

(8.) Because, the Scriptures teach the way of life (Proverbs 2:9; Luke 16:29; Acts 24:14). (9.) Because, the Scriptures set forth the duties of every man in his place, and circumstances of his life (Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:24; 2 Chronicles 23:11). (10.) Becau…

(5) Because, it is expressly commanded in Scripture, that punishment be inflicted upon idolaters, even by the nearest relations. If then, the father may kill the son, may kill the daughter, the husband the wife of his bosom: and if one brother may stone another brother with ston…

By what reasons are they confuted? (1) Because God has expressly commanded that transgressing idolaters be put to death. (Deuteronomy 17:7; Deuteronomy 19:21.) (2) Because it belongs to the office and duty of the Magistrate to punish the guilty with death. (Romans 13:4; 1 Peter…

(4) Because, there is a particular example of a Synod, which had the power of Jurisdiction, and which consisted, and was made up of members, out of diverse Classical Conventions: For when the question about circumcision, and the keeping of Moses' Law, which troubled the churches…

Leviticus [illegible]:16: And he that blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:2, 3, 4, 5: If there be found among you within any of your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, man or woman, that has wrought wickedness in the sight of t…