Deuteronomy 17:18

When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses instructs the future monarch of Israel at the moment of coronation, specifying the procedure he must follow immediately upon taking his royal throne.

The words — The verb וְ/כָ֨תַב (ve./Kha.tav) commands "and he will write," paired with מִשְׁנֵ֨ה (mish.Neh), meaning "a copy of," which defines the required physical act of transcribing the law.

The thread — This royal mandate parallels Moses’ own transcription of the law (Deuteronomy 31:9, Deuteronomy 31:24) and mirrors the later coronation practice of presenting the Testimony to a king (2 Kings 11:12).

Why it lands — The king must personally produce a scroll under priestly supervision to ensure his authority remains bound to the written instruction rather than his own wealth or power.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְהָיָ֣הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹkhe./shiv.T/owhen/ sits/ he עַ֖ל'alon כִּסֵּ֣אki.Se'[the] throne of מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹmam.lakh.T/okingdom/ his וְכָ֨תַבve./Kha.tavand/ he will writeל֜וֹl/ofor <the>/ himselfאֶת־'et-<obj.>מִשְׁנֵ֨הmish.Neh<the> copy of הַתּוֹרָ֤הha./to.Rahthe/ law הַזֹּאת֙ha./zoT<the>/ this עַל־'al-on סֵ֔פֶרSe.fera scroll מִלִּפְנֵ֥יmi./li/f.Neifrom/ to/ before הַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםha./ko.ha.Nimthe/ priests הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites

King James Version

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 31:9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
Deuteronomy 31:24 When Moses had finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,
2 Kings 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”
2 Kings 22:8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan, who read it.
2 Chronicles 34:15 And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.