Asked by Javier
On pages 9-10, Paine notes that it was "held sinful to acknowledge any being under that title [king] but the Lord of Hosts
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Do you want the exact source/citation, an explanation of what Paine meant there, or both?
Brief answer now: That line is Paine’s point that, in the biblical tradition, giving a man the title and authority of “king” was viewed as wrong because God alone is sovereign (“the Lord of hosts”). Paine invokes that Old Testament precedent (see Deuteronomy 17:14–20 and 1 Samuel 8) to bolster his larger argument against monarchy and hereditary rule: kingship concentrates power in one person and competes with the rightful sovereignty of the people (and of God).
If you want, I can:
- give the exact work and edition/page citation where Paine wrote that line;
- provide the full surrounding passage and a short line‑by‑line explanation; or
- show the relevant biblical passages Paine is alluding to. Which would you like?
Brief answer now: That line is Paine’s point that, in the biblical tradition, giving a man the title and authority of “king” was viewed as wrong because God alone is sovereign (“the Lord of hosts”). Paine invokes that Old Testament precedent (see Deuteronomy 17:14–20 and 1 Samuel 8) to bolster his larger argument against monarchy and hereditary rule: kingship concentrates power in one person and competes with the rightful sovereignty of the people (and of God).
If you want, I can:
- give the exact work and edition/page citation where Paine wrote that line;
- provide the full surrounding passage and a short line‑by‑line explanation; or
- show the relevant biblical passages Paine is alluding to. Which would you like?
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