Benjamin and the Law of the King

Deuteronomy 17:15–20 presents the requirements to be king under the law of Moses. According to this "paragraph of the king," a righteous king must read and keep the law and fear the Lord, and he should not be lifted up above his brethren or seek for riches. King Benjamin addressed each of these themes in his great speech, explaining how he had been faithful to his people and the Lord in keeping these commandments. These parallels are especially strong in Mosiah 2:12–14, which suggests that Benjamin had read and followed the scriptures on the brass plates, of which Deuteronomy was a part. This shows that Benjamin's concept of kingship was completely at home in ancient Israel and in accordance with God's regulations.