Temple Scroll

The law of the king — that he shall not multiply silver and gold, nor wives, nor horses; that he shall keep this law before him; and that the elders of the council shall be at his side continually.

1When thou comest into the land which I give thee, and dost possess it, and dwell therein, and shalt say: I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are about me — thou mayest indeed set a king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose. From among thy brethren shalt thou set a king over thee. Thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother.

2Only he shall not multiply horses unto himself, neither shall he cause the people to return unto Egypt to multiply horses. Neither shall he multiply wives unto himself, that his heart turn not aside; neither shall he greatly multiply unto himself silver and gold.

3And 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. And it shall be with him; and he shall read therein all the days of his life — that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, that he may do them.

4He shall not multiply unto himself wives. He shall not take any other wife to her — only she shall be with him all the days of her life. And if she die, then shall he take unto himself another wife, of his father's house, of his clan.

5He shall not pervert judgment, neither shall he take a bribe. He shall not turn aside the judgment of the poor of My people. He shall judge the people with righteous judgment. He shall not desire a field, or a vineyard, or any possession that is not his own. He shall not covet anything that is his neighbour's.

6Twelve princes of his people shall be with him; and twelve of the priests; and twelve of the Levites — who shall sit with him together to give judgment, and to give counsel concerning the law. He shall not turn aside from their counsel to do anything in pride.

7He shall not go out unto the battle until he hath enquired of the Urim and Thummim before the Lord. By the word of the Lord shall he go out, and by the word of the Lord shall he come in — he and all the children of Israel that are with him. He shall not go alone, lest his heart be lifted up.

8If he do all these things, his throne shall stand fast over Israel for ever; he and his sons after him shall reign in righteousness, and the Lord shall be with them. But if he do them not — his throne shall not be established; and his sons shall be cut off from the kingdom; and the Lord shall raise up another whom His soul shall choose.

9Glory be unto the Lord, the giver of the law, the builder of the sanctuary, the king over all the kings of the earth. Forever and ever. Amen.