Old Testament

New Testament

Deuteronomy 17:7-19 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

7. The witnesses must be the first to throw stones at the person. Then everyone else will follow. You must get rid of the evil among you.

8. Some cases that come before you may be too difficult to judge. It may be a case of murder, quarreling or attack. Take these cases to the place the Lord your God will choose.

9. Go to the priests who are Levites. And go to the judge who is on duty at that time. Ask them about the case, and they will decide.

10. You must follow the decision they give you. They will be at the place the Lord your God will choose. Be careful to do everything they tell you.

11. Follow the teachings they give you. Do whatever they decide. Do exactly what they tell you.

12. The person who does not show respect for the judge or priest must be put to death. They are there serving the Lord your God. You must get rid of that evil from Israel.

13. Then everyone will hear about this. And they will be afraid. They will not show disrespect anymore.

14. You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. You will take it as your own and live in it. Then you will say, “Let’s appoint a king over us like the nations all around us.”

15. Be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. He must be one of your own people. Do not appoint a foreigner as your king. He is not a fellow Israelite.

16. The king must not have too many horses for himself. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses. The Lord has told you, “Don’t return that way again.”

17. The king must not have many wives. If he does, his heart will be led away from God. He must not have too much silver and gold.

18. When he becomes king, he should write a copy of the teachings on a scroll for himself. He should copy it from the priests and Levites.

19. He should keep it with him all the time. He should read from it every day of his life. Then he will learn to respect the Lord his God. And he will obey all the teachings and commands.

Read complete chapter Deuteronomy 17