Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 17

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 2

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

transgressing. Hebrew. 'abar. App-44 .

Verse 3

not commanded. Equally authoritative in matters of faith and worship to-day.

Verse 4

diligently. See note on Deuteronomy 13:14 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 5

stranger = foreigner.

Verse 6

mouth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), put for the witness borne by it. App-6 .

two. Compare Numbers 35:30 , and see Mat 18:16 . 2 Corinthians 13:1 . 1 Timothy 5:19 .

Verse 7

put the evil away. See note on Deuteronomy 13:5 .

Verse 8

between. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read "or between".

stroke = punishment. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 .

Verse 9

the priests the Levites. First occurrence of this expression. Occurs six times in Deut.; elsewhere in Jos 3:31 ; Jos 8:33 . 2 Chronicles 30:27 . Nehemiah 11:20 . Isaiah 66:21 .Jeremiah 33:21 .Ezekiel 44:15 . The expression refers to the Levitical priests as distinct from the Tribal priests (or Levites).

Verse 10

This is the middle verse of Deut.

Verse 11

they shall teach thee. This was the great duty of the Priests. See Deuteronomy 33:10 . Leviticus 10:11 .Ezra 7:10 . Jeremiah 18:18 . Haggai 2:11 , Haggai 2:12 .Malachi 2:7 .

Verse 14

and shalt say. A prophetic contingency provided for. Compare Genesis 36:31 .

Verse 17

wives. Compare 1 Kings 11:1-3 .

Verse 18

write. See note on Exodus 17:14 and App-47 .

in a book. See App-47 .

Verse 20

turn not aside. See Deu 28:14 . 2 Kings 22:2 .Joshua 1:7 ; Joshua 23:6 .