'Vers. 14-20.-Limitations round· about a king. A king is the creation of a nation's will. The nation does not exist for the king, but the king exists for the nation. His proper aim IB not personal glory, but the widest public good. I. Kn.as ARE THE PRODUCT OF A DEGENERATE AGE. Since the King of heaven is willing to give his counsel and aid to men, it is for our honour and advantage to lirn under the direct administration of God; and it is only when piety and faith decline that men clamour for a human king. 'l'be conquests of Canaan by Israel had been most complete when Israel most carefully followed the commands of God. To sensitive minds, it would have been a dagger-thrust to imitate the practices of the degenerate heathen. II. Drvr~"E LIMITATIONS ABOUT THE CHOICE OF A KING. In condescension to Luman infirmity, God will allow the ele,ation of a man to the throne. 'l'brongh our own caprices, God ofttirnes punishes us. Yet God kindly sets barriers about our capricious wills. For martial purposes, foolish men would often choose a stalwart gia[It, some Goliath, to be their king, though be be of foreign birth ; or some successful warrior to lead therp forth to battlll. 'l'his is prohibited. 'l'he nation is to be self- Cu[Itained. All the elements of prosperity may be found within its own borders. The will of God must be respected. God himself will select the man, point him out by Oil, XVIII, 1-22.] 'l'llE IlOOK 01'' DEUTERONOMY. 301
unmistakable methods, and the nation can do no more than gr.itefully accept God's wiso decision, lie will choose; they must anoint. III. DIVINE UMITATIONS ADOUT THE CONDUCT OF A KING. To hiin does not belon" tho privilogo to gratify every taste and temper. The very contrary. He is under 11rcate; obligations than any other man to restrain himself. Temptation will surround him on overy side.; but ho must meet temptation with vigilance, patience, firmness. To be a truo king, he must first conquer himself. He must restrain carnal ambition. He must restrain love of display. He must restrain the passion for conquest. He must restrain sensual pleasure. He must restrain his avarice. His real distinction is not to have many horses, many wives, or great riches. His distinction is to be wise adminis- trator of righteousness, the protei.:tor of public liberty and peace. To fulfil faithfully the funcLions of a king, he must walk circumspectly in the narrow way-be a loyal subject to the King of heaven. IV. LIMITATIONS ABOUT THE PRIVATE LIFE OF A KING. His first concern must be respecting his personal fitness for such responsible office. No pains must he spare to obtain complete equipment. He must count no labour severe or menial by which he may qualify himself for kingly duties. His first duty is to obtain completest acquaintance with the will of God. To this end he must possess a copy of God'~ written Law, and in this Law he must meditate day and night. The spirit of this Law must animate his being and breathe in all his speech. God"s Word mu~t be his varu mecum, his daily compass and chart. He must move among his courtiers and governors asa visible embodiment of truth and purity, a living transcript of the Divine will. This is a true pattern of a king-a man who excels in wisdom, having learnt of God ; a man who is eminent for pious obedience, and writes in largest characters the model of a noble life, Such a man shall live. "Though he die, his influence and rule shall live."-D,
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER XVIII the two jaw-bones, and the rongh stomach of ruminants, in which the digestion is R!GllTS OF THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES. completed. These were regarded as the THE ARTS OF DlVINATION OF THE choice parts of the animal. and were to be HEATHEN TO DE AVOIDED. PROPHETS . given to the priests in addition to the warn breast and heave leg of the peace offerings PROMISED WHOM ISRAEL MUST HEAR. (Lev. vii. 32, etc.; Numb. xviii. 11), which THE FALSE AND PRESUMPTUOUS PROPHET b«!longed to the firings of Jehovah, men tionecl TO BE POT TO DEATH. in ver. I. To these the priest had a rightful Vers. 1-8.-After the ruling powers, claim; they were his due (~~~z;i, mishpat, the judges and the king, come the priests right). " This right was probably o.ccorded to tl.te priests 11.s a compensation for the falling and the Levites. In regard to them Moses off which would take place in their incomes repeats here the law ns before foid down in consequence of the repeal of the law that (cf. Numb. xviii. 20, 23, 24). every o.uimal was to be slo.ughtered at the Ver. 1.-The priests the Levites, the whole sanctuary o.s a sacrifice (Lev. xvii.; vide eh. tribe of Levi; i.e. the whole tribe of Levi, xii. 15. sqq.)" (Keil). According to Josephus including both the priests and tho general (' Antiq ,' iv. 4, 4), Philo (' De Prnmiis. body of the Levites. They she.II eat the Sacerdot.,' p. 832, Opp., tom. ii. p. 235, edit. offerings of the Lord made by :fire. " 'l.'he l\langey), the Tl\ln,ud, etc., thls injunc- offorings of the Lord ml\de by fire" (litemlly, tion relates to the slaying of animo.ls at the fires or firings of Jehovah), here referred home for private use, and not such as were to, were the meal offering, the sin offering, killed for sacrifice. Bnt the use here o.nd the trespass offering (cf. Numb. xviii. of the sacrifichtl phraseology, who offer e. 9). And his iDheritanoe; i e. of Jehovah, se.crifioe (n~J;i 'fli1i, who slay vie~ for what was nppropriated to him, and from sacrifico-a phrase nowhere found except in him lo the tribe of Levi, suoh as tithes, oonnection with sacrificial rites) i.i adverse fil'stlings, nnd firstfruits. to this; a.ml besides, how could such an Vers. 2, 3.-As he hath said unto them enactment be carried out? how could (cf. Numb. xviii. 20). The shoulder, &nd the people, residiug e.t a dista.nco, convey to two Qheeks, &nd the m&w; i.e. the front leg, the priests the portions clue to them every 302 THE BOOK OF DEUTEilONm.lY. [cu. XVIII, 1-22.