
Text -- Deuteronomy 17:19-20 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Deu 17:19 - -- 'Tis not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, yea, use them daily. Our souls must have constant meals of that manna, which if well digested, w...
'Tis not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, yea, use them daily. Our souls must have constant meals of that manna, which if well digested, will afford them true nourishment and strength.

Wesley: Deu 17:20 - -- He intimates, that the scriptures diligently read, are a powerful means to keep him humble, because they shew him in that, tho' a king, he is subject ...
He intimates, that the scriptures diligently read, are a powerful means to keep him humble, because they shew him in that, tho' a king, he is subject to an higher monarch, to whom he must give an account of all his administrations, and receive from him his sentence agreeable to their quality, which is sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world.
JFB -> Deu 17:18-20; Deu 17:20
JFB: Deu 17:18-20 - -- The original scroll of the ancient Scriptures was deposited in the sanctuary under the strict custody of the priests (see on Deu 31:26; 2Ki 22:8). Eac...
The original scroll of the ancient Scriptures was deposited in the sanctuary under the strict custody of the priests (see on Deu 31:26; 2Ki 22:8). Each monarch, on his accession, was to be furnished with a true and faithful copy, which he was to keep constantly beside him, and daily peruse it, that his character and sentiments being cast into its sanctifying mould, he might discharge his royal functions in the spirit of faith and piety, of humility and a love or righteousness.

JFB: Deu 17:20 - -- From this it appears that the crown in Israel was to be hereditary, unless forfeited by personal crime.
From this it appears that the crown in Israel was to be hereditary, unless forfeited by personal crime.
Clarke: Deu 17:19 - -- And it shall be with him, etc. - It was the surest way to bring the king to an acquaintance with the Divine law to oblige him to write out a fair co...
And it shall be with him, etc. - It was the surest way to bring the king to an acquaintance with the Divine law to oblige him to write out a fair copy of it with his own hand, in which he was to read daily. This was essentially necessary, as these laws of God were all permanent, and no Israelitish king could make any new law, the kings of this people being ever considered as only the vice-gerents of Jehovah.

Clarke: Deu 17:20 - -- He, and his children, in the midst of Israel - From this verse it has been inferred that the crown of Israel was designed to be hereditary, and this...
He, and his children, in the midst of Israel - From this verse it has been inferred that the crown of Israel was designed to be hereditary, and this is very probable; for long experience has proved to almost all the nations of the world that hereditary succession in the regal government is, on the whole, the safest, and best calculated to secure the public tranquillity.

TSK: Deu 17:20 - -- his heart : Deu 8:2, Deu 8:13, Deu 8:14; 2Ki 14:10; 2Ch 25:19, 2Ch 26:16, 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:26, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19, 2Ch 33:23, 2Ch 34:27; Psa 131:1,...
his heart : Deu 8:2, Deu 8:13, Deu 8:14; 2Ki 14:10; 2Ch 25:19, 2Ch 26:16, 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:26, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19, 2Ch 33:23, 2Ch 34:27; Psa 131:1, Psa 131:2; Isa 2:12; Dan 5:20-23; Hab 2:4; 2Co 12:7; 1Pe 5:5
he turn : Deu 4:2, Deu 5:32, Deu 12:25, Deu 12:28, Deu 12:32; 1Ki 15:5
right hand : Deu 17:11; 1Sa 13:13, 1Sa 13:14, 1Sa 15:23; 1Ki 11:12, 1Ki 11:13, 1Ki 11:34, 1Ki 11:36; 2Ki 10:30; Psa 19:11; Psa 132:12; Pro 27:24; Ecc 8:13
that he : Pro 10:27

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole: Deu 17:19 - -- 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 exc...
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.

Poole: Deu 17:20 - -- 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,...
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 actions, and receive from him his sentence and doom agreeable to their quality, which is sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world, if he duly consider it.
Haydock: Deu 17:19 - -- 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...
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. (Haydock) ---
Constantine the Great, Charlemagne, St. 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. (Encyclopedia Britannica, Bible, &c.) Yet the Catholic Church never condemned this conduct of her children, as Protestants would insinuate. (Cath. Doct. by N. G.)

Haydock: Deu 17:20 - -- With pride. This is not expressed in Hebrew, but it is clearly (Haydock) implied. Humility is the most difficult virtue for a prince to practice, a...
With pride. This is not expressed in Hebrew, but it is clearly (Haydock) 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 St. Augustine, City of God v. 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)
Gill: Deu 17:19 - -- And it shall be with him,.... Always, when at home or abroad, sitting on his throne or lying down, or wherever he went, unless in such places where it...
And it shall be with him,.... Always, when at home or abroad, sitting on his throne or lying down, or wherever he went, unless in such places where it was not proper to read it, as the Jews observe o: and he shall read therein all the days of his life; every day of his life; meditate on it night and day, as a good man does, that he might be well versed in it, and know how to govern his people according to it:
that he may learn to, fear the Lord his God; to serve and worship him both internally and externally, he having the fear of God always before his eyes, and on his heart, which the holy law of God directs to and instructs in:
to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes, to do them; not only such as concerned him as a king, but all others that concerned him as a man, a creature subject to the Lord, and as an Israelite belonging to the church and commonwealth of Israel, and so includes all laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial.

Gill: Deu 17:20 - -- That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren,.... On account of his office, the dignity of it, considering that he was subject to the law of God...
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren,.... On account of his office, the dignity of it, considering that he was subject to the law of God, and accountable to the Lord for all his actions:
and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand or to the left; not in the least deviate from the law of God in the whole of his conduct, and particularly in the exercise of his kingly office:
to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom; ruling well according to the laws of God being the way to rule long:
he and his children in the midst of Israel; this shows, as Jarchi observes, that if his son was fit for the kingdom, he was to be preferred to any other man; for though it was elective, yet to be continued in the same family, provided they walked in the ways of the Lord, and observed his laws.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Deu 17:20
NET Notes: Deu 17:20 Heb “upon his kingship.” Smr supplies כִּסֵא (kise’, “throne”) so as to read “...
Geneva Bible -> Deu 17:20
Geneva Bible: Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his ( o ) brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to t...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Deu 17:1-20
TSK Synopsis: Deu 17:1-20 - --1 The things sacrificed must be sound.2 Idolaters must be slain.8 Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges.12 The contemner o...
MHCC -> Deu 17:14-20
MHCC: Deu 17:14-20 - --God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingl...
Matthew Henry -> Deu 17:14-20
Matthew Henry: Deu 17:14-20 - -- After the laws which concerned subjects fitly followed the laws which concern kings; for those that rule others must themselves remember that they a...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Deu 17:18-20
Keil-Delitzsch: Deu 17:18-20 - --
And thirdly , instead of hanging his heart upon these earthly things, when he at upon his royal throne he was to have a copy of the law written out...
Constable: Deu 5:1--26:19 - --IV. MOSES' SECOND MAJOR ADDRESS: AN EXPOSITION OF THE LAW chs. 5--26
". . . Deuteronomy contains the most compre...

Constable: Deu 12:1--25:19 - --B. An exposition of selected covenant laws 12-25
Moses' homiletical exposition of the law of Israel that...

Constable: Deu 16:18--19:1 - --5. Laws arising from the fifth commandment 16:18-18:22
The fifth commandment is, "Honor your fat...
