Lit., the priests the Levites. So also elsewhere in this book. The investigation was conducted mainly by the priest. First, the priest went to God and stayed with God. Second, in the presence of God the priest would consider God’s holy word. Third, the Levitical priests had the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim (Deut. 33:8), which provided instant enlightenment (Exo. 28:30 and notes). Eventually, through the presence of God, the word of God, and the Urim and Thummim, the priest would gain a clear understanding of the divine judgment and then pass on this judgment to the presiding judge. The judge would then make a judgment according to what the priest had received from God and passed on to him. The judgment of the case, therefore, came through man, but it was of God and according to God — a matter of theocracy. See note Deut. 16:18¹.

The people’s desire to have a king, thus replacing God as their King, was offensive to God (1 Sam. 8:4-7 and note 1 Sam. 8:7^1b).

Egypt signifies the world, and horses signify the worldly means. If God’s people use the worldly means or the worldly way, they will surely turn back to the world.

The law here refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, which were written by Moses. In ruling over the people, the king first had to be instructed, governed, ruled, and controlled by the word of God. The principle should be the same with the elders in the churches. In order to administrate, to manage, the church, the elders must be reconstituted with the holy word of God (1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17). As a result, they will be under God’s government, under God’s rule and control. Then spontaneously God will be in their decisions, and the elders will represent God to manage the affairs of the church. This kind of management is theocracy (see note Deut. 16:18¹).