Deuteronomy 17:14–20

Verse 14. King. The Rabbins observe, that one was to be elected before the place for the temple was fixed upon, that the tribes might not contend about that honour. Grotius.—God foresees that the people will insist upon having a king, and gives his consent, reserving to himself the choice, and appointing laws for him, that he may not forget that he is the only lieutenant of the most high. Yet God testified his displeasure, when the Israelites demanded a king, because they did it in a seditious manner, so as to reject the prophet Samuel, whom he had given them for a ruler, in whom they could discover no fault. Calmet. 1 Kennicott. 8:7 and 10:19.

Verse 15. Choose, as he did Saul, David, and Solomon, who succeeded to the throne of his father, though he was not the eldest son. Menochius.—Then the throne began to be hereditary, in virtue of God’s promise to David. Calmet.—Brother. The Jews neglected this law, when they willingly recognized the authority of Herod, two years after the birth of Christ. See Genesis 49:10. Bible.—A stranger might attempt to draw off the people from the service of the true God, and mutual love would not so easily subsist between them. Menochius.

Verse 16. Horses. Josue and David rendered the captured horses useless, (Joshua 11:6. 2 Kennicott. 8:4,) and the judges rode on asses. Judges 10:4 and 12:14. Solomon began to keep some, and in his days in Egypt was noted for the traffic of horses; though, after Sesostris had intersected the country with canals, they were more neglected. Marsham. Canon. sæc. xiii. and xiv. God did not wish his people to engage in the tumults of war, nor would he permit their king to be puffed up with his own strength. Psalms 19:8 and 32:17. Philo says he would not have them to listen to any one who might promise to conduct them to a better country and thus teach them to lead a wandering life. Calmet.—He precludes also the attempt to conquer Egypt. Hebrew “he shall not make the people return to Egypt, in order that he may multiply horses,” by their buying them for him in that country, 3 Kennicott. 10:29.—Way. When the people proposed returning, God severely punished them. Numbers 14:5.

Verse 17. Mind, and reign in his name. Hebrew “and his heart turn not away” from the worship of the true God, as it happened to Solomon, and to many other kings, whom Moses seems to have had in view. Too great a number of wives would tend to perplex and enervate the king, and to eat up the treasures of his people. The Jewish lawyers allow the king only 18, and they say David and Roboam had that number. But the latter had moreover 60 concubines, (2 Chronicles 11:21,) and Solomon had many more. In effect, the number seems not to be restricted, and, what is very singular, the Rabbins allow all but the high priest and the king as many as they can keep, though the sages advise people to have no more than four, which seems to be the sentiment of the Mahometans. This liberty was taken by the Jews till the emperors restricted them, A.D. 593. Seld. Uxor. i. 8, and so forth Plurality of wives was not formerly a sin, though Solomon offended by too great excess. Saint Augustine q. 27. Worthington.—Gold. Immense riches are seldom possessed even by kings, without the oppression of their subjects, and great danger of falling into extravagance. If David amassed so much gold, it was destined for the building of the temple. But Solomon laying on heavy taxes, alienated the hearts of his people, and gave occasion to the revolt of 10 tribes; and Ezechias brought on a severe chastisement by making a parade of his treasures to the ambassadors of the king of Babylon, 4 Kennicott. 20:15. Calmet.

Verse 18. Of this law, perhaps from the 14th verse to the end of the chapter ( Bible.) or the whole Book of Deuteronomy, which contains an abridgment of the law, (Joshua 8:32. Menochius.) or even the five books, which were formerly written without any division, and went under the name of the law. Grotius, and so forth—Hebrew seems favourable to this last opinion, ( Calmet.) “he shall write a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is kept by the priests,” unless Moses might only require that he should have a copy of what he was then delivering. Bible.—Some say that the king was obliged to take two copies, one of which he was to have always about him. It is not certain whether he was obliged to write himself, as Philo asserts, or another might do it for him. The diadem and the law were presented to Joas, when he ascended the throne, 2 Chronicles 23:11. Calmet.—If ( Bible.) Josias had not seen a copy of the law before the 18th year of his reign, this precept must have been very ill observed, 4 Kennicott. 22:11. Calmet.—But, very probably, that book, which Helcias discovered in the temple, was the autograph of Moses, and therefore made a deeper impression upon all who saw and heard it read, than if it had been read than if it had been only an ordinary copy. This copy might have been mislaid or secreted in those troublesome times; and then the high priest brought it to light again, he as well as the king and all the people, were filled with joy and amazement. Bible.—It was the custom of the Jews to present a copy of the law to their kings, when they first sat upon the throne; and hence, perhaps, they make a similar present to the Pope, when he goes to take possession of the Lateran church. Morus.—They presented one to Innocent II when he made his entry into Paris, 1146, and another to king Louis the Fat, as Suger informs us. Calmet.—Priests. Temporal princes who desire to become virtuous and wise, will ever take the law of God at the priest’s hands. Worthington.

Verse 19. Law. Pious Christian emperors and kings have esteemed it their greatest glory and happiness to read and meditate on the holy commandments of God, in order to regulate their conduct, amid the various dangerous occupations of their station. Bible.—Constantine the Great, Charlemagne, S. Stephen of Hungary, Alphonsus I. of Spain, were noted for the zeal which they shewed in the particular. Alphonsus of Arragon, had read the Bible, with the Commentaries, 14 times over, and the great Alfred wrote all the New Testament twice over with his own hand. Calmet.—He had translated into English Saxon all or most of the Bible before 900, as king Athelstan did about 925. Encyc. Brit. Bible, and so forth Yet the Catholic Church never condemned this conduct of her children, as Protestants would insinuate. Cath. Doct. by N. G.

Verse 20. With pride. This is not expressed in Hebrew but it is clearly ( Bible.) implied. Humility is the most difficult virtue for a prince to practice, amid the flattery of his courtiers, and the splendour with which he is environed. See Saint Augustine Calmet. D. verse 24. Calmet.—His sons. Wicked kings seldom left a quiet possession of the throne to their heirs. Menochius.—David and his posterity reigned in succession, by an effect of the divine bounty. Calmet.