A Quick Discussion of Deuteronomy 17:17

This “rule,” another in a series concerning the Kings of Israel … is most understandable. It is clearly predicated on previous divine legislation. (Like the Ten Commandments!)

God told Israel (well before her first Monarch ever sat upon a throne) … “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.” Deuteronomy 17:17, the first half of the verse, to be more precise.

Simply stated: the King cannot have many wives!

The verb “multiply” (actually “shall multiply”) is “rabah” in Hebrew, meaning “to become many.” Or “numerous,” or just “in abundance.”

This law we can all understand. We have been reared in a (once) monogamous society … the term means “one woman, one wife.”

For man to have two (or more) living wives … in my years … was called an adulterous situation.

So of course … the King cannot have many wives! (Over 500 years previously God had commanded: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14)

But here in our Text today God uses another reason for the limitation! Again: “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away.”

See it?  “That his heart turn not away.”

They possibly might “turn away” (in Hebrew “sur”) the King’s heart … from the living God of Israel! This verb (“sur”) can mean “to hate” as well, “to eschew” something or someone!

And this is exactly what happened later to King Solomon! “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives TURNED AWAY his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God.” First Kings 11:4

Lesson “point” today … THAT WHICH WE LOVE OFTEN CAN CONTROL OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIVES! Apparently, the desire to please one’s Wife can (at times) conflict with the desire to please one’s God!

And God was fearful that the Wife would win! God, knowing human nature as He does, since He is the very Creator of us all! So God has (wisely) “banned” many wives for an individual man.

By the way, seems that if one has a Wife who also loves the God of Heaven and earth … he has been prudent from the very start! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

That’s why Proverbs 18:22 shouts: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.”

Wow!

And Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell