14 "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say , ' I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' 15 you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses , one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman . 16 " Moreover , he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses , since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way .' 17 " He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away ; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 18 "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom , he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests . 19 "It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life , that he may learn to fear the Lord his God , by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes , 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment , to the right or the left , so that he and his sons may continue long e in his kingdom in the midst of Israel .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:14-20
(Read Deuteronomy 17:14-20)
God himself was in a particular manner Israel's King; and if they set another over them, it was necessary that he should choose the person. Accordingly, when the people desired a king, they applied to Samuel, a prophet of the Lord. In all cases, God's choice, if we can but know it, should direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bibles, but will have constant occasion for them, till they come to that world where knowledge and love will be made perfect. The king's writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better for it even in this world.