Falling Short of Royal Righteousness

Solomon’s Violations of Deuteronomy 17:14–20

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We need to keep in mind that earlier Scripture influences later Scripture, since later biblical authors knew and trusted and applied what God had earlier revealed.

When we read the story of Solomon, there are multiple echoes from Deuteronomy 17. In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the requirements for Israel’s king, which were laid out in Deuteronomy 17:14–20. Moses explained the criteria which an Israelite king was to fulfill.

But did an Israelite king in the Old Testament embody these criteria?

Solomon violated the stipulations. In fact, when the biblical author gives an account of Solomon’s reign, the author seems, at several points, to be evoking the kinds of things which Moses spoke about in Deuteronomy 17:14–20. Putting it another way, I think that when you read about Solomon’s life in 1 Kings, you get the distinct impression that the biblical author wants you to think about Deuteronomy 17—and how Solomon falls short of what is required there.