Deuteronomy-Chap-17
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Remember the following truth from our
beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction: (The Blueprint for a Just Society).
Deuteronomy 17 marks a transition from
general moral exhortations to the establishment of concrete legal and civic
institutions. It focuses on the purity of the community’s devotion and the
necessity of a structured authority. The underlying theme is that a holy nation
cannot exist without both religious integrity (purity of worship) and civil
order (the appointment of judges and kings). This chapter ensures that power, whether
judicial or royal remains subordinate to the Divine Will.
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Below are the verses of Deuteronomy Chapter 17, verses 1 to 20: Whilst below the chapter is a commentary of same. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
1 “Thou shalt not
sacrifice unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha (God) an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, even any evil thing;
for that is an abomination unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha. 2 If there be found in the midst of thee,
within any of thy gates which יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the
sight of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, in transgressing His covenant, 3 and hath
gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or
any of the host of heaven, which I have commanded not; 4 and
it be told thee, and thou hear it, then shalt thou inquire diligently, and,
behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought
in Israel; 5 then shalt thou bring forth that man or
that woman, who have done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the
woman; and thou shalt stone them with stones, that they die. 6 At
the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put
to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him
to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the
evil from the midst of thee. 8 If there arise a matter too
hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and
between stroke and stroke, even matters of controversy within thy gates; then
shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha shall choose. 9 And thou shall come unto
the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall
be in those days; and thou shalt inquire; and they shall declare unto thee the
sentence of judgment. 10 And thou shalt do according
to the tenor of the sentence, which they shall declare unto thee from that
place which יְהוָה
- the LORD
shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall
teach thee. 11 According to the law which they shall
teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou
shalt do; thou shalt not turn aside from the sentence which they shall declare
unto thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And
the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, or unto the judge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt
exterminate the evil from
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My special Commentary on Deuteronomy Chapter 17:
Verses
1-7: Integrity in Worship and Witness.
The chapter begins with the prohibition of offering a blemished animal. This
serves as a metaphor for our spiritual lives: we must give our best, not our “leftovers”,
to the Divine. It transitions quickly into the grave matter of idolatry. Note
the emphasis on rigorous investigation (“and hast inquired diligently”). Justice is
never to be summary or based on rumour; it requires the testimony of at least
two or three witnesses. This establishes the Jewish legal principle that the
life of an individual is so precious that a single witness, no matter how
credible is insufficient for a capital conviction.
Verses
8-13: The High Court (The Central Authority).
Recognising that local judges might face cases too complex or “baffling” for
them, the Torah establishes a supreme appellate court. This body, situated in
the place the Eternal chooses, represents the final word on Law. The “stubbornness”
mentioned in verse 12 is not merely a personal flaw but a civic rebellion
against the legal framework that holds society together. By following the “verdict
of the Law”, the community maintains unity and prevents the fracturing of the
nation into competing sects.
Verses 14-20: The Law of the King
These verses are unique in the ancient world. While
other nations viewed their kings as gods or above the law, the Torah places the
king under
the Law.
Please Note the
following two items:
The Prohibitions (Verses 16-17): The king is forbidden from accumulating excessive horses (military power), many wives (political alliances/distractions), or great wealth (personal greed). These are the three things that typically lead a leader to forget their dependence on the Divine.
The Scroll (Verses 18-20): The king’s most important duty is to write for himself a copy of this Law and read it all the days of his life. The purpose is humility; he must remember he is a brother to his subjects, not a master over them. His authority is a stewardship, not a right.
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My Closing Message: (The Heart of Leadership).
The enduring message of Deuteronomy 17 is
that the health of a nation depends on the humility of its leaders and the
integrity of its courts. Whether one is a ‘judge’, a ‘king’, or a ‘private
citizen’, the requirement is the same: to prevent the heart from being “lifted
up above his brethren”. When we tether our actions to a standard higher than
our own desires, we create a society defined by justice rather than power. True
sovereignty belongs only to the Infinite; all human authority is merely a
reflection of how well we adhere to the path of righteousness.
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