Deuteronomy 17:2-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:1-7

Here is, I. A law for preserving the honour of God's worship, by providing that no creature that had any blemish should be offered in sacrifice to him, Deut. 17:1. This caveat we have often met with: Thou shalt not sacrifice that which has any blemish, which renders it unsightly, or any evil matter or thing (as the following word night better be rendered), any sickness or weakness, though not discernible at first view; it is an abomination to God. God is the best of beings, and therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:2

If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee ,.... In any of their cities in the land of Canaan: man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God : as all that is wrought is in the sight of the omniscient God; here it means not any kind of wickedness, for there is none lives without committing sin of one sort or another, all which is known to God the searcher of hearts, but such wickedness as is after described: in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:3

And hath gone ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, after the evil imagination or concupiscence, lusting after other lovers, and forsaking the true God, and departing from his worship: and served other gods ; strange gods, the idols of the people, other gods besides the true God; the creature besides the Creator: and worshipped them ; by bowing down before them, praying to them, or ascribing their mercies and blessings to them, and giving them the glory of them: either the sun, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:4

And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently ,.... A report of this kind was not to be neglected; though it was not to be concluded upon as certain by hearsay, it was to be looked into, and the persons that brought it thoroughly examined; so the Targum of Jonathan,"and inquired the witnesses well,'what proof and evidence they could give of the fact, who the persons were, when and where, and in what manner the sin was committed: and, behold, it be true, and ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:5

Thou shall bring forth that man or that woman which have committed the wicked thing ,.... Idolatry in any of the above instances: this must be supposed to be done after he or she have been had before a court of judicature, and have been tried and found guilty, and sentence passed on them, then they were to be brought forth to execution: unto thy gates ; the Targum of Jonathan says, unto the gates of your sanhedrim, or court of judicature; but Jarchi observes, that this is a mistake of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:4

If it be told thee - In a private way by any confidential person. And thou hast heard of it; so that it appears to be notorious, very likely to be true, and publicly scandalous. And hast inquired diligently - sought to find out the truth of the report by the most careful examination of persons reporting, circumstances of the case, etc. And, behold, it be true - the report is not founded on vague rumor, hearsay, or malice. And the thing certain - substantiated by the fullest evidence. Then... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:2

Verse 2 2.If there be found among you. The same punishment is here decreed against idolaters, to which apostates had been before condemned; and thus either transgression is declared a capital crime. Hence we gather that it is accounted before God no less weighty a sin to violate His worship by gross and impure superstitions, than openly and professedly to fall away from religion altogether. Thus in Ezekiel 20:39, He bids farewell to the Jews, and as it were emancipates them, that they may go... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:4

Verse 4 4.Then three shalt inquire (307) diligently. Although this moderation here refers only to the present matter, yet should it always be maintained in judicial proceedings, lest innocent persons should be treated with undue severity. Again, we must remember what I have said elsewhere, that judges are here not only restrained from precipitate condemnation, but also stimulated to beware of passing over, in idleness or negligence, anything that was necessary to be known. For they often fail... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:1-7

Idolatry a capital crime. The closing verses of last chapter prohibiting groves near God's altar may be taken in connection with the verses now before us as constituting the solemn prohibition of idolatry. God will not have any rival, either sun, moon, or any of the host of heaven, not to speak of the more miserable idolatries of things on earth; he makes idolatry a capital crime, and decrees death as its penalty. This brings out the enormity of the sin in the eyes of God; and it does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:2

In Deuteronomy 13:1-18 , Moses enacts what is to be done to those who seduce into idolatry. Here he declares what is to be done to those who are so seduced. Done wickedness ; literally, done the evil . The definite article is prefixed; it is not any kind of wickedness that is here denounced, but the special sin of idolatry, the wickedness κατ ἐξόχην . All idolatry was to be strictly suppressed—those convicted of it to be put to death by stoning. read more

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