Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 17:17
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
17. multiply wives silver and gold ] Solomon notoriously did so. His marriages with foreign princesses were for political ends, but introduced heathen cults into Israel (1Ki 11:1, cp. 1Ki 16:31).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Multiplication of wives would lead to sensuality, and so to an apostasy no less fatal in effect than downright idolatry (compare Exo 34:16). This rule, like the others, abridges to the ruler of Israel liberties usually enjoyed without stint by the kings of the East. The restriction was in the days of Moses unprecedented; and demanded a higher standard in the king of Israel than was looked for among his equals in other nations.
Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold – In this third prohibition, as in the other two, excess is forbidden. Vast accumulation of treasure could hardly be effected without oppression; nor when effected fail to produce pride and a trust in uncertain riches 1Ti 6:17.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Neither shall he multiply wives] For this would necessarily lead to foreign alliances, and be the means of introducing the manners and customs of other nations, and their idolatry also. Solomon sinned against this precept, and brought ruin on himself and on the land by it; see 1Kg 11:4.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Neither shall he multiply wives, as the manner of other kings was.
That his heart turn not away, to wit, from God and his law; either,
1. To idolatry and superstition, to which women are ofttimes prone, and especially such women as he was likely to choose, even the daughters of neighbouring and idolatrous kings and princes, as Solomon did; or,
2. To other manifold sins and violations of his duty to his people, either by neglect and contempt of his business, through effeminacy and sloth, or by oppressing his people, and perverting justice, to comply with the vast and exorbitant desires of his wives.
Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold, lest this should lift up his heart in confidence and pride, which God abhors, and beget in him a contempt of his people; and lest it should incline, or engage, or enable him to burden his people with immoderate exactions. They are not simply forbidden to be rich, if God made them so either by the voluntary gifts of their subjects, or by the spoils of their enemies, which was the case of David, and Solomon, and Jehoshaphat, &c.; but they are forbidden either inordinately to desire, or irregularly to procure, great riches by grinding the faces of their poor people, or by other wicked arts and courses, as the manner of their neighbouring kings was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Neither shall he multiply wivesto himself, that his heart turn not awayThere were thestrongest reasons for recording an express prohibition on this point,founded on the practice of neighboring countries in which polygamyprevailed, and whose kings had numerous harems; besides, the monarchof Israel was to be absolutely independent of the people and hadnothing but the divine law to restrain his passions. The mischievouseffects resulting from the breach of this condition were exemplifiedin the history of Solomon and other princes, who, by trampling on therestrictive law, corrupted themselves as well as the nation.
neither shall he greatlymultiply . . . silver and goldthat is, the kings wereforbidden to accumulate money for private purposes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away,…. From attending to the duty of his office, the care and government of his people, and from serious religion; and particularly from the worship of the true God, as the heart of Solomon was turned away from it by his numerous idolatrous wives, 1Ki 11:3, it is a common notion of the Jews that a king might have eighteen wives, and no more k: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold; he might increase his wealth, but not greatly, lest his heart should be lifted up with pride by it, and lest his subjects should be oppressed and burdened with taxes for that purpose; or he, being possessed of so much, should make use of it to enslave them, and especially should be so elated with it as to deny God, and despise his providence, and disobey his laws; see Pr 30:9. The Jews generally say l, that he ought not to multiply more than what will pay the stipends or wages of his servants, and only for the treasury of the house of the Lord, and for the necessity of the congregation (or commonwealth), and for their wars; but not for himself, and his own treasury.
k Maimon. Issure Biah, c. 1. sect. 2. Misn. ut supra. (Sanhedrin, c. 10. sect. 4.). T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 21. 1. Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc. l Maimon. ib. sect. 4. Misn. ut supra. (k)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself. Polygamy at that time had generally prevailed, so that the very humblest of the people violated the marriage vow with impunity; and therefore it was necessary that the kings should be bound with closer restrictions, lest by their example they should give greater countenance to incontinency. And thus their ignorance is easily refuted who conclude that what was specially interdicted to the kings was permitted to private individuals, whereas the law of chastity was imposed upon the former, because without this remedy there would be no bounds to their lasciviousness. Besides, the people would have been subjected to great expense on their account, since such is the ambition of women, that they would all have desired to receive royal treatment, and would have even vied with each other in finery, as actually came to pass. David transgressed this law, and in some degree excusably on account of his repudiation by Michal; still it appears that lust had more power over him than the continency prescribed by God. What follows is so connected by some as if it were the reason of the foregoing sentence, in this way, “that kings were not to multiply wives to themselves, lest their heart should turn away from what was right,” as was the case with Solomon; for, from being too devoted to his wives, and being deceived by the snares of women, he fell into idolatry. And assuredly it can scarcely fail to happen, that when many wives beset a man, they must render his mind effeminate, and stifle in him all his manly good sense. Yet I prefer taking the clause separately, that kings must beware lest the splendor of their dignity should affect the soundness of their judgment, for nothing is more difficult than for one in great power to continue disposed to temperance. Therefore God does not in vain enjoin that they should constantly persevere in their duty, and not lose their understanding. Moreover, He forbids kings to heap up treasures, because it cannot be done without rapine and violent exactions; whilst, at the same time, wealth encourages them audaciously to undertake unjust wars, incites them to gross dissipation, and at length hurries them forward to tyrannical excesses. First, therefore, God would have kings beware, lest in their pursuit of riches they should exhaust the blood of the people, and lest they should lavish their ill-gotten money in superfluous expenses, and be extravagant with what belongs to others; and lastly, lest they should be tempted by the pride of wealth to attempt unlawful things.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself The Eastern kings had large harems, and it seems appropriate that the lawgiver should in this way admonish the future king of the chosen people.
Neither silver and gold Oriental despots gathered from the people wealth to spend upon themselves. The king of God’s people was not to accumulate for himself. How different might have been the history of the Israelites if their kings had heeded these directions of Moses!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself He shall not indulge himself in a vast number of wives and concubines, especially women of different nations and religions, after the manner of the eastern monarchs. The reason is added, that his heart turn not away; i.e. lest his thoughts be diverted from minding the good of his people; and lest he be seduced from the true religion by marrying the worshippers of strange gods, as was the case with Solomon.
Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold He shall not set himself to heap up treasure in his own coffers for his private interest, which could not be done without great oppression of his subjects. Add to this, that luxury, and dissolution of manners, are the common effects of exorbitant wealth; vices most destructive to the people in general, who are too apt to imitate the example of their prince. Of this we have many instances in history, particularly in the kings of Persia, who, by their overgrown wealth, entailed ruin both on themselves and their whole people. Another fatal effect of immoderate wealth is, that it begets pride and tyranny; it being the epidemic folly of mankind to trust in their riches, and upon account thereof to form an over-weening opinion of themselves, and to behave with insolence and cruelty towards others.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Solomon’s transgression of this precept cost him very dear. 1Ki 11:1-3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Ver. 17. Silver and gold. ] Lest his exactors receive from his subjects no less sums of curses than of coin; and lest he gather money, the sinews of war, but lose the people’s affection, the joints of peace, as our King John did.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wives. Compare 1Ki 11:1-3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
multiply wives: Gen 2:24, 2Sa 3:2-5, 1Ki 11:1-4, Neh 13:26, Mal 2:15, Mat 19:5
neither shall he: 1Ki 10:21, Psa 62:10, Pro 30:8, Pro 30:9, Mat 6:19, Mat 6:20, Mat 13:22, Mat 19:23, Mat 19:24, Luk 12:15, 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:17
Reciprocal: Deu 30:17 – heart Jdg 8:30 – many wives 2Sa 5:13 – General 1Ki 11:4 – his wives 1Ch 14:3 – took 2Ch 11:21 – eighteen wives Pro 31:3 – to that Isa 2:7 – land
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 17:17. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself As the manner of other kings was, contrary to the design of God from the beginning. That his heart turn not away From God and his law, as Solomons did. Neither silver nor gold Lest this should lift up his heart in confidence and pride, which God abhors, and beget in him a contempt of his people.
They are not simply forbidden to be rich, if God made them so, which was the case of David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and some others; but they are forbidden, either inordinately to desire, or irregularly to procure great riches, by grinding the faces of their own subjects, or possessing themselves, contrary to justice, of the property of others.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart {l} turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
(l) From the Law of God.