through !L prophet direct the choice of the dicates that the law wo.s so ancient that it peoplo; ultimo.tely the mono.rchy became had come in their time t0 he regarded [18 hercdito.ry, o.nd it was understood tho.t the obsolete. The rule tho.t the king was to prince who succeeded to the throne did write him o. copy of the Law for hie own so with the Divine o.pproval, unlees the constant use does not neceeearily imply oppoeite was expreeely intimated by a that he wae to write this with his own moesage from God. hand ; he might cause it to be written by Vere. 16, 17.-Certo.in rulee o.re prescribed some qualified scribe for him. for the king. It is forbidden to him to Ver. 18.-A copy of this law; literally, multiply horeee, to multiply wives, o.nd to a double of this Law, i.e. not, as the LXX. e.mo.ss lo.rge treo.suree of silver o.nd gold, ho.ve it, "This reiteration of the Law" e.nd ho must ho.ve o. copy of the Law (-ro 6,v-r,pov&µiov -rov-ro ), but a duplicate or written out for him from that kept by the copy of the Pentateuchal Law. The Jews priests, tho.t he might ho.ve it by him, o.nd understo.nd by " double" that tu:o copies reo.d it o.11 the do.ys of hie life. The of the Law were to be made by the king multiplying of horses is prohibited, because (Maimon., 'De Regibus,' c. iii.§ 1); but this this would bring Israel iuto intercourse is unnecessary : every copy of a law is a and friendly relations with Egypt, o.nd double of it. Out of that which is before might tend to their going back to that the priests. The priests were the custodians country from which they had been so of the written Law (eh. x=i. 26); and from marvellously delivered; a prohibition which the text of their codex was the king's copy could only have been given e.t an early to be written. stage in the history of the people, for at Ver. 19.-And it shall be with him, etc. e. later period, after they had been well It was to he carefully kept by him, but established in Canaan, such a prohibition not as a mere sacred deposit or palladium ; for such a reason would ho.ve been simply it was to be constantly with him wherever ridiculoue. The prohibition to multiply he was, was to be the object of his continual wives e.nd to e.maee large tree.eures has study, and was to be the directory and guide respect to the use.go common from the of his daily life (cf. Josh. i. 8 ; Ps. L 2 ; ee.rliest period with Oriente.l monarchs to cxix. 15, 16, 24, 97-99, etc.). have vo.st he.reme e.nd huge e.ccumulations Ver. 20.-That his heart be not lifted up of the precious metals, e.s much for osten- above his brethren. "Not imagining him- ts.tion 11.s for either luxury or use; and as self to be above all laws, nor slighting -his there wo.e no email danger of the !Ung of subjects, as unworthy of his notice, but Israel being seduced to follow this usage, taking a due care to promote their happi- and so to have hie heart turned away from ness" (Patrick). He, and his children; the Lord, it was fitting that such o. prohi- properly, his sons (l'R), The legislator bition should be proepectively enacted for anticipated not an elective mon[lrchy, hut his guidance. Both these prohibitions were one hereditary in the same family (cf. neglected by Solomon, and probably by Michaelis,' Lo.ws of Moses,' pt. L § 54). others of the Jewish kings; but this only in-
HOMILETICS.
Ver. 1.-(See Homily, eh. xv. 21, on "Sacrifices to be without blemish.") Vers. 2-7.-The sacredness of personal reputation seen in the regulations concerning human testimony. So far as this passage presents to us the doctrine that idolatry, being apostacy from God, was treason to the Hebrew commonwealth, and was to be punished with death, the matter is dealt with in the Homily on the thirteenth chapter. An inquiry of great importance would sooner or later arise, and would, therefore, need to be provided for in the Mosaic institutes, viz.: "On what evidence shall any one be adjudged guilty of such a crime?" It will be seen here that, while God so guarded his own honour that it might not be sullied with impunity, so he guarded the reputation of the people that it might not bo assailed or impeached on any frivolous pretext or any unproven report. 'fhe exactitude in the order of expression_ in t~e four~~ verse is very noticeable: If it be so-and it be told thee-and thou hast wquired-d1hgently-and, behold, it is true-and the thing certain-then, and not till then, m[ly the penalty be inflicted. Observe: 1. Every one was held to be innocent till be was proved other- wise. 2. No one's character wns put at tk mercy ui any one uualtesteu wituess. 3. He 288 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [en. XVII, 1-20,