Deuteronomy 17:16 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:16-17

Certain rules are prescribed for the king. It is forbidden to him to multiply horses, to multiply wives, and to amass large treasures of silver and gold, and he must have a copy of the Law written out for him from that kept by the priests, that he might have it by him, and read it all the days of his life. The multiplying of horses is prohibited, because this would bring Israel into intercourse and friendly relations with Egypt, and might tend to their going back to that country from which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 17:16

The horse was not anciently used in the East for purposes of agriculture or traveling, but ordinarily for war only. He appears constantly in Scripture as the symbol and embodiment of fleshly strength and the might of the creature (compare Psalms 20:7; Psalms 33:16-17; Psalms 147:10; Job 39:19 ff), and is sometimes significantly spoken of simply as “the strong one” (compare Jeremiah 8:16). The spirit of the prohibition therefore is that the king of Israel must not, like other earthly potentates,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 17:16

Deuteronomy 17:16. He shall not multiply horses Though he might have horses for his own use, yet he was not to have many horses for his officers and guard, much less for war, lest he should trust in them. The multiplying horses is also forbidden, lest it should raise too great a correspondence with Egypt, which furnished Canaan with them. The Lord hath said The Lord hath now said to me, and I, by his command, declare it to you. Ye shall no more return that way Into Egypt, lest ye be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:1-20

Justice and government (16:18-17:20)A collection of miscellaneous laws deals with a variety of civil and religious matters. The courts had to administer justice impartially (18-20); the worship of Yahweh was not to involve any symbols or sacred objects taken from other religions (21-22); people were not to offer sick or lame animals in sacrifice (17:1); the testimony of at least two witnesses had to be in agreement before an accused person could be punished (2-7); and when local judges found a... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 17:16

Ver. 16. He shall not multiply horses to himself— The injunction here laid being to prevent all commerce with Egypt, we must conclude that Egypt supplied other nations with horses; but it may give light to the sacred text, to inquire more particularly into the reasons of this prohibition, which we shall find so weighty and various, as to appear worthy of its author, and accommodated only to a law of divine origin. The first reason, which was expressly delivered with the law, is, properly,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 17:16

16. he shall not multiply horses to himself—The use of these animals was not absolutely prohibited, nor is there any reason to conclude that they might not be employed as part of the state equipage. But the multiplication of horses would inevitably lead to many evils, to increased intercourse with foreign nations, especially with Egypt, to the importation of an animal to which the character of the country was not suited, to the establishment of an Oriental military despotism, to proud and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Kings 17:14-20Moses recognized that when Israel settled in Canaan and took on the characteristics of other nations (e.g., a homeland, political organization, etc.) her people would desire a king. As he revealed the mind of God here, a king was permissible, but he had to qualify in certain respects. [Note: See John E. Johnson, "The Old Testament Offices as Paradigm for Pastoral Identity," Bibliotheca Sacra 152:606 (April-June 1995):182-200.] 1. He had to be an Israelite (Deuteronomy 17:15). This... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:1-20

The Punishment of Idolatry. Controversies to be Settled by Priests and Judges. Election and Duties of a King1. Cp. Leviticus 22:17-25. 2. Wickedness] idolatry, as in Deuteronomy 4:25. 5. Unto thy gates] see on Genesis 19:1.7. The hands of the witnesses] This regulation, by throwing the responsibility of the execution upon the witnesses, would act as a safeguard against false evidence: see on Leviticus 24:14.8-13. Difficult cases are to be referred to a supreme court of judicature, consisting of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Deuteronomy 17:14-20. THE LAW OF THE KINGDOM.(14) When thou art come unto the land.—These are not the words of a legislator who is already in the land. Those who say that this law dates from later times must be prepared to assert that this clause is expressly framed to suit the lips of Moses, and is thus far a deliberate forgery.And shalt possess it, and dwell therein—i.e., shalt complete the conquest and settle. It is not contemplated that the king would be desired immediately after the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:14-20

THE SPEAKERS FOR GOD -I. THE KINGDeuteronomy 17:14-20IN approaching the main section of the legislation it will be necessary, in accordance with the expository character of the series to which this volume belongs, to abandon the consecutive character of the comment. It would lead us too far into archaeology to discuss the meaning and origin of all the legal provisions which follow. Moreover nothing short of an extensive commentary would do them justice, and for our purpose we must endeavor to... read more