Abstinence of the King
God alone hath the right to rule.
1. HE shall not multiply to himself horses: he shall not multiply to himself carriages: he shall not multiply to himself ships: he shall not multiply to himself armour: he shall have all these to defend his people, and the children of his people, but not to oppress them.1
48 words,
214 letters.
2. He shall not multiply to himself wives; lest he forget the Law, and avenge not his people: and lest his heart turn from them to strange women.
27 words,
112 letters.
3. He shall not multiply to himself servants of the children of his people; lest his yoke be oppressive.
18 words,
82 letters.
4. He shall not multiply to himself silver and gold; lest he be proud, and turn away from this Law, and do it not.3
23 words,
85 letters.
5. Neither shall he lead his people to strange places to dwell therein, which the Lord thy God hath not appointed for their
[1 Deut. xvii,16. [2 Deut. xvii,17. [3 Deut. xvii,17.
[Page 180]
dwelling; lest they depart from the Law, and despise it.
32 words,
142 letters.
6. He shall not make other Laws, despising this; but all his Laws and Commandments shall be according to the Law of the Lord thy God, to establish it. For the Lord thy God shall speak. He shall decree, and he shall alter it as seemeth good unto him, and none shall hinder.
52 words,
210 letters.
Total—6 sec., 200 words, 845 letters.
1. In the time of Moses the same individual was Apostle, Prophet, and King. So far as prerogative was concerned, none was before him, till at the transfiguration, when Jesus Christ received an ordination under the hand of God. But the people, being in a lowly condition, Moses practiced great moderation, abstaining from rearing a numerous family, that he might give himself to the service of his brethren; and instead of providing armour for the nation, induced them to arm themselves, making private property supply the place of well stored arsenals.
2. The nation having become wealthy in the days of David and Solomon, they not only provided large armaments, which were in some degree burdensome to the people, but took so many wives that many of them were left to barrenness, which was an offence to God. (B. of M. Jacob ii, 6.)
3. But they were not forbid to have more than one wife. For the Law existed long before David. Yet, though David had a number of wives before the overthrow of Saul, God gave him Saul’s widows to his bosom, and was willing to give him more. (2d Sam. iii, 8.)
1. HE shall not multiply to himself horses: he shall not multiply to himself carriages: he shall not multiply to himself ships: he shall not multiply to himself armour: he shall have all these to defend his people, and the children of his people, but not to oppress them.1
48 words,
214 letters.
2. He shall not multiply to himself wives; lest he forget the Law, and avenge not his people: and lest his heart turn from them to strange women.
27 words,
112 letters.
3. He shall not multiply to himself servants of the children of his people; lest his yoke be oppressive.
18 words,
82 letters.
4. He shall not multiply to himself silver and gold; lest he be proud, and turn away from this Law, and do it not.3
23 words,
85 letters.
5. Neither shall he lead his people to strange places to dwell therein, which the Lord thy God hath not appointed for their
[1 Deut. xvii,16. [2 Deut. xvii,17. [3 Deut. xvii,17.
[Page 180]
dwelling; lest they depart from the Law, and despise it.
32 words,
142 letters.
6. He shall not make other Laws, despising this; but all his Laws and Commandments shall be according to the Law of the Lord thy God, to establish it. For the Lord thy God shall speak. He shall decree, and he shall alter it as seemeth good unto him, and none shall hinder.
52 words,
210 letters.
Total—6 sec., 200 words, 845 letters.
1. In the time of Moses the same individual was Apostle, Prophet, and King. So far as prerogative was concerned, none was before him, till at the transfiguration, when Jesus Christ received an ordination under the hand of God. But the people, being in a lowly condition, Moses practiced great moderation, abstaining from rearing a numerous family, that he might give himself to the service of his brethren; and instead of providing armour for the nation, induced them to arm themselves, making private property supply the place of well stored arsenals.
2. The nation having become wealthy in the days of David and Solomon, they not only provided large armaments, which were in some degree burdensome to the people, but took so many wives that many of them were left to barrenness, which was an offence to God. (B. of M. Jacob ii, 6.)
3. But they were not forbid to have more than one wife. For the Law existed long before David. Yet, though David had a number of wives before the overthrow of Saul, God gave him Saul’s widows to his bosom, and was willing to give him more. (2d Sam. iii, 8.)