提要
十七章接續十六章十八節起有關訟事和司法官的指示。摩西一直擔任以色列人的大法官，並在他以下指派了其他法官協助他（出18：24~26）。現在，以色列人即將進入應許之地，摩西的大限也將至，所以他略為修正了司法制度，使其更為適用於以色列人在迦南地的新生活。以色列人在各城中都要選出有智慧、公義、不偏心的人作法官。這些人要明白上帝的律法，好使他們能根據上帝的教訓判斷。若有難斷的事，地方法官就要將案子帶到在會幕任職的祭司和利未人面前，由他們尋求上帝的指引，然後作出有權柄、公正的判決。
摩西警告司法官員絕不可曲枉正直、收受賄賂，或仿效異教徒的習俗，藉著立柱像或木偶來尋求神諭（16：21~22），他們乃要永遠聽從上帝，保守自己分別為聖。
摩西所強調的一個最主要的重點是，司法官不可在未經查詢可靠的證人之前就定罪犯人，一旦罪證確鑿，刑罰則是不輕的（17：4~6）。犯拜偶像之罪的人要用石頭打死，藉此將這惡行從以色列民中除去，也使其他人在犯同樣的罪之前能三思而行（17：12~13）。
摩西接著對以色列人可能要立王的事提出建言，實際上，這是一段預言。摩西說，以色列的王要熟讀、學習、並遵行上帝的律法，他要謙卑、順服、尊主為大。四百年後，以色列人真的要求立王（撒上8：7~8），而他們的王從一開始就犯了摩西所警告的事，如添加馬匹、多立妃嬪、多積金銀（17：16~17）。所羅門王更是箇中高手（王上4：26，11：1~4）。
摩西下一個處理的是祭司人員。祭司職不像國王，它是現存、由上帝指派的職位。祭司沒有地業，因為上帝就是他們的產業（18：2）。他們要全心全意教導以色列人上帝的律例、典章，並領導以色列人敬拜上帝。摩西也提醒以色列百姓要回報祭司在他們中間的服事。
另一個摩西所談到的聖職是奉主名而來的真先知。以色列人唯要透過上帝的能力來尋求預示，而不可透過假先知或種種異教徒使用的方式，因為以色列人要在上帝面前作聖潔、無可指責的百姓（18：10~13）。上帝會在以色列歷史上的重大時刻差遣先知到他們中間，使他們歸回上帝之道，並會對他們預言有關彌賽亞來臨的事。
最後，在十八章的尾聲，我們讀到上帝透過摩西所說的有關彌賽亞的偉大預言。「一位先知像我」指的是耶穌基督為我們的中保、代禱者、和救贖主，就像摩西在以色列人中擔任的角色一樣。耶穌和祂的門徒都瞭解這段經文指的就是祂（約1：45；5：43、46；7：46；12：48~49；徒3：22~23；7：37）。祂不只是先知，也是祭司和君王，祂應驗了舊約所有的應許。那些拒絕祂和祂話語的人事實上就是拒絕了上帝和祂的救恩（18：19）。
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Overview
Chapter 17 continues the instructions (stared in 16:18) regarding the administration of judges. Moses had been the chief judge and had appointed other judges under him (Ex.18:24-26). Now that Israel was about to enter the Promised Land and Moses was close to death, he modified the judicial system to make it applicable to their new life within Canaan. In each town, the people were to appoint wise, righteous, impartial, and just men to serve as judges. They were to know the Law of God so their judgments would be based upon it. If a difficult case arose, they were to bring it before the priests and Levites who served at the central sanctuary. Thus, under the guidance sought from the Lord, an authoritative and just verdict was to be reached.
The judges were to warned never to pervert justice by taking bribes or by adopting heathen practices whereby an oracular verdict was sought through such means as a wooden image or a sacred pillar (16:21-22), but they were always to hear from God and keep themselves holy and consecrated unto Him.
A central point that Moses stressed was that the judges were to make no condemnation without first a careful inquiry with adequate and reliable witnesses, that guilt may be confirmed (17:4-6). A harsh penalty to match the crime was to be administered. The one involved in idolatry was to be stoned to death so that the evil among them would be removed and so that others would think twice before committing such a sin (17:12-13).
Moses then advised Israel concerning the eventual appointment of king, something he prophetically retold. Moses said the king was to be a reader, student, and doer of the Law. He was to be humble, obedient, and submissive to the Lord as his supreme authority. Israel’s request for a king was fulfilled about 400 years later (1 Sam.8:7-8), and from the very beginning the kings did what Moses had warned against, such as multiplying horses, wives, and gold (17:16-17). This was especially true of Solomon, (1 King 4:26; 11:1-4).
The next office of leadership Moses dealt with was that of the priest. Unlike the king, the office of priest was already in existence and appointed by God. The priests had no inheritance of land, for God was their inheritance (18:2). They were to occupy their time in teaching Israel the way of the Lord and leading them in worship. Moses reminded the people to provide for them in return for their great service.
Another divinely appointed office discussed by Moses was that of the true prophet who comes in the Name of the Lord. It was to be only through the power of God that any foretelling was to be sought, not through the numerous heathen means or false prophets, for Israel was to be blameless and holy before God (18:10-13). God would send His prophets to Israel at crucial points in their history to turn them back to the way of the Lord and to prophesy concerning the coming of the Messiah.
Finally, before the close of chapter 18, we find a great Messianic prophecy that God promised through Moses. The words, “a Prophet like me”, referred to our Lord Jesus Christ being a mediator, intercessor, and the means for deliverance, as Moses had been for the children of Israel. Jesus understood this passage as pointing to Himself, as did His apostles (John 1:45; 5:43, 46; 7:46; 12:48-49; Acts 3:22-23; 7:37). He is not only the Prophet, but also the Judge, Priest, and King who fulfilled all the promises of the Old Testament. Truly, those who reject Him and His words are rejecting God and the way of salvation (18:19).
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