That the king not amass many wives: That the king not amass many wives for himself. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 17:17), “And he shall not amass many wives for himself.” And the reason for the commandment is elucidated in the verse, as women sway the hearts of their husbands — meaning to say that they seduce them to do what is not fitting to do through the constancy of their competition, their many words and their slipperiness.
From the laws of the commandments is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Sanhedrin 21a) that it is permitted to marry up to eighteen wives, but not more — and even if they are like Avigail, who was righteous, alacritous and good. [This] and the rest of its details are in the second chapter of Sanhedrin. And this is from the commandments which are only upon the king.
And it is practiced at the time that we have a king. And if he transgressed this and took (married) one beyond the eighteen, he is liable for lashes and he must divorce her.
שֶׁלֹּא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ נָשִׁים – שֶׁלֹּא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ נָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה. וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים יז יז) וְלֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ נָשִׁים. וְטַעַם הַמִּצְוָה מְבֹאָר בַּכָּתוּב, כִּי הַנָּשִׁים מְסִירוֹת לֵב בַּעְלֵיהֶן, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁמְּפַתּוֹת אוֹתָם לַעֲשׂוֹת מַה שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי בְּהַתְמָדָתָן עֲלֵיהֶם, תַּחֲרוּת, וְרִבּוּי דְּבָרִים, וַחֲלַקְלַקּוֹת.
That the king not amass many wives: That the king not amass many wives for himself. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 17:17), “And he shall not amass many wives for himself.” And the reason for the commandment is elucidated in the verse, as women sway the hearts of their husbands — meaning to say that they seduce them to do what is not fitting to do through the constancy of their competition, their many words and their slipperiness.
מִדִּינֵי הַמִּצְוָה. מָה שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין כא, א) שֶׁעַד שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה נָשִׁים הוּא מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא וְלֹא יוֹתֵר, וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵן כַּאֲבִיגַיִל שֶׁהָיְתָה צִדְקָנִית וּזְרִיזָה וְטוֹבָה. וְיֶתֶר פְּרָטֶיהָ בְּפֶרֶק שֵׁנִי מִסַּנְהֶדְרִין. וְזֹאת מִן הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁהֵן עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ לְבַדּוֹ.
From the laws of the commandments is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Sanhedrin 21a) that it is permitted to marry up to eighteen wives, but not more — and even if they are like Avigail, who was righteous, alacritous and good. [This] and the rest of its details are in the second chapter of Sanhedrin. And this is from the commandments which are only upon the king.
וְנוֹהֶגֶת בִּזְמַן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ. וְאִם עָבַר עַל זֶה וְהוֹסִיף לִקַּח אַחַת עַל שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה, חַיָּב מַלְקוּת. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְגָרְשָׁהּ.
And it is practiced at the time that we have a king. And if he transgressed this and took (married) one beyond the eighteen, he is liable for lashes and he must divorce her.