Laws Concerning Israel's Kings

14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, (A)‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you (B)whom the Lord your God will choose. One (C)from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many (D)horses for himself or cause the people (E)to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, (F)‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he (G)shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, (H)nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

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The King

14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession(A) of it and settled in it,(B) and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,”(C) 15 be sure to appoint(D) over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites.(E) Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses(F) for himself(G) or make the people return to Egypt(H) to get more of them,(I) for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”(J) 17 He must not take many wives,(K) or his heart will be led astray.(L) He must not accumulate(M) large amounts of silver and gold.(N)

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