Why were blemished animals forbidden as sacrifices in this passage?

Blemished animals were forbidden because God was teaching Israel that he is holy and deserves their best. Bringing a damaged or “evilfavoured” animal to the altar would show a careless heart, not real honor. The sacrifice was to be whole and sound, pointing to the idea of pure worship and, in time, to a sinless sacrifice. This law reminded the people not to treat God like an afterthought, giving him what they did not want, but to give him what was fitting and respectful.

Why was idol worship punished by death here?

Idol worship is treated as covenant breaking, like being unfaithful in a marriage. When someone went and served other gods, such as the sun, moon, or stars, they were turning away from the God who brought Israel out of slavery and made them his people. Because this could lead others astray and tear the whole community away from God, it is called an abomination. The death penalty showed how serious this was and was meant to “put the evil away” so others would fear and not follow that path.

What is the point of needing two or three witnesses?

The rule about two or three witnesses was meant to guard against unfair deaths and false charges. No one could be put to death because of what one person said. There had to be a careful inquiry, and then at least two witnesses who agreed. Those witnesses had to throw the first stones, which made them think very hard before accusing someone. This law shows that God cares about justice, not only punishing real evil, but also protecting people from lies and rushed judgments.

How were hard legal cases handled in this passage?

When a case was too hard for local judges, such as questions about bloodshed, lawsuits, or injuries, the people were told to go up to the place God would choose, where the priests and the judge served. There they were to ask for a clear ruling. Whatever those leaders decided, according to God’s law, had to be followed without turning aside “to the right hand or to the left.” This set up a kind of higher court that kept judgments tied closely to God’s instructions.

Why was refusing the priest’s or judge’s ruling such a serious sin?

Refusing the ruling of the priest or the judge in this passage was treated as acting proudly against God’s order. The leaders were there to teach and apply God’s law, not their own ideas. When someone stubbornly refused to listen, it was not only pushing back against people, but against God’s way of keeping peace and justice in the nation. The punishment of death and the warning that all would “hear, and fear” show that open rebellion against rightful judgment threatened the whole community.

What rules did God give for a future king in this passage?

The king had to be chosen by God and had to be from among his own brothers, not a foreigner. He was told not to pile up horses, especially by turning the people back toward Egypt, not to take many wives so his heart would not turn away, and not to greatly heap up silver and gold. These limits kept the king from trusting military power, lust, or wealth instead of God. The king was to live like one of the people under God, not as someone above God’s commands.

Why did the king have to write and read his own copy of the law?

The king was told to write a copy of the law for himself from what the priests had, and to keep it with him and read it all his life. This was so he would learn to fear the Lord, carefully keep the commands, and not lift his heart up above his brothers. Constant reading would help him stay humble, obedient, and steady, not turning aside to the right or left. God tied the length and steadiness of his rule, and his children’s rule, to this daily closeness to God’s word.

What does this passage show about God’s view of leadership?

This passage shows that leadership among God’s people is meant to be under God’s law, not above it. Judges and priests must judge by what God has said, not by favoritism. The people must respect those decisions, as long as they are in line with God’s commands. A king is not free to live as he pleases, but must be humble, avoid pride, and keep away from the snares of power, pleasure, and riches. God wants leaders who fear him, serve justly, and remember they are brothers among brothers.

Deut.17.1

Deuteronomy 17:1

KJV

Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Detestable Sacrifices

1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.

Purge the Idolater

2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:

5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

Courts of Law

8 ¶ If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose;

9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.

12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Guidelines for a King

14 ¶ When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.