When
you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and
have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “I will
set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,”1
you may indeed set over you a king whom the Lord your God will
choose.2
One of your own community you may set as king over you;3
you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your
own community.4
Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the Lord has said to you, “You must never return that way again.” And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself.5
When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests.6 It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes,7 neither exalting himself above other members of the community8 nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
1 This and 1 Samuel 8 seem very closely tied together, like a reaching-back contemporary account in the time of Israel's kings.
Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the Lord has said to you, “You must never return that way again.” And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself.5
When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests.6 It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes,7 neither exalting himself above other members of the community8 nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
1 This and 1 Samuel 8 seem very closely tied together, like a reaching-back contemporary account in the time of Israel's kings.
2
Doesn't make it appear as bad of a decision here. Strange,
considering God's other statements about the “nations around
them”, this would seem to be a pretty poor motive.
3
Other than “like all the nations”, the positive
duties/functions of a king are not detailed at all.
4
Surprising that this would even be considered – perhaps it
happened often in the ancient world?
5
Study Bible points out that this all alludes to Solomon, very
plausibly so, suggesting to me that Deuteronomy/Samuel/Kings might
be contemporary works. Independent of the allusions, the command
not to accumulate military power, wealth, or women is wise.
6
Tying the law to the king's reign.
7
Once again following the commands is central.
8
Humbling the king in a manner strikingly different from the
Egyptians, Romans, and others. Study Bible points out that Psalm 2,
45, and other seem to conflict with this.
Take-home: Kingship is allowed another level of authority, but the King is still subject to the law
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