And when he is made king, he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor lead back the people into Egypt, being lifted up with the number of his horsemen, especially since the Lord hath commanded you to return no more the same way.
רַק֮ לֹא־יַרְבֶּה־לּ֣וֹ סוּסִים֒ וְלֹֽא־יָשִׁ֤יב אֶת־הָעָם֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה לְמַ֖עַן הַרְבּ֣וֹת ס֑וּס וַֽיהוָה֙ אָמַ֣ר לָכֶ֔ם לֹ֣א תֹסִפ֗וּן לָשׁ֛וּב בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ הַזֶּ֖ה עֽוֹד׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
It brought joy to God that the Jewish people would trust in His assistance rather than depend solely on their own military arrangements. Consequently, He instructs: "that thou shalt not multiply unto thee horses."
*****
See Psalm 32:17
The instruction was that he should not amass horses, nor should he take many wives or accumulate silver and gold. However, King Solomon did precisely those things.
Why does Moses instruct the ruler not to amass horses for himself? His intention is for the Israelites to place their trust solely in the Lord. In alignment with this, the blessed David proclaims: ‘A king shall not be saved by much strength, neither shall a giant be saved by the multitude of his strength. A horse shall not be saved by the multitude of his strength’ (Psalm 32:16-17).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS