“Whom HASHEM your God shall choose” (Dt.17:15)— according to the guidance of a prophet.
4
מִקֶּרֶב – וְלֹא מֵחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
“From among your brothers” (Dt.17:15)— but not an Israelite from beyond the Land.
5
אַחֶיךָ – וְלֹא מֵאֲחֵרִים.
“From among your brothers” (Dt.17:15)— but not from [gentile] outsiders.83A literal rendering of the Hebrew: ‘akheirim. But, see Pisqa’ 43.18- 30, for word-plays which exploit the assonance of ‘akheirim with ‘elohim ‘akheirim, yielding “gods of the others” as well as “other gods.”
2. “Shall you place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15). Now, wasn’t it just said [in the very same verse]: “You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)? Why, then, does the Teaching state twice: “Shall you place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)? So that his majesty awes you. On this basis they taught: A king— they don’t ride his horse, or sit on his throne, or use his scepter. Nor may they see him naked, or getting a haircut, or in the bath house84=M/San.2:5; cf. T.San.4;2
“A foreign man” (Dt.17:15)— On this basis they taught: A man may be appointed to provide for the community, but they may not appoint a woman to provide for the community.
4. “Who is not your brother” (Dt.17:15). When Agrippas [the king] reached this verse,85In his ceremonial reading of the Torah on the Day of Assembly (Dt.31:10-13). he would weep. And all Israel would say to him: Have no fear, Agrippas, You are our brother! You are our brother!”86//M. Sotah 7:8.
(דברים יז טו) שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים, מֵת – מַנֵּה אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו.
Pisqa’ 15782H:192; JN2:25-26
1. “You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)—
and if he dies, appoint another in his place.
מֶלֶךְ – וְלֹא מַלְכָּה.
“A king” (Dt.17:15)—
but not a queen.
אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ – עַל פִּי נָבִיא.
“Whom HASHEM your God shall choose” (Dt.17:15)—
according to the guidance of a prophet.
מִקֶּרֶב – וְלֹא מֵחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
“From among your brothers” (Dt.17:15)—
but not an Israelite from beyond the Land.
אַחֶיךָ – וְלֹא מֵאֲחֵרִים.
“From among your brothers” (Dt.17:15)—
but not from [gentile] outsiders.83A literal rendering of the Hebrew: ‘akheirim. But, see Pisqa’ 43.18- 30, for word-plays which exploit the assonance of ‘akheirim with ‘elohim ‘akheirim, yielding “gods of the others” as well as “other gods.”
תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ, וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ? שֶׁתְּהֵא אֵימָתוֹ עָלֶיךָ! מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: מֶלֶךְ אֵין רוֹכְבִים עַל סוּסוֹ וְאֵין יוֹשְׁבִים עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְאֵין מִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁים בְּשַׁרְבִיטוֹ וְאֵין רוֹאִים אוֹתוֹ עָרוֹם וְלֹא כְּשֶׁהוּא מִסְתַּפֵּר וְלֹא בְּבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ.
2. “Shall you place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15).
Now, wasn’t it just said
[in the very same verse]:
“You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)?
Why, then, does the Teaching state twice:
“Shall you place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)?
So that his majesty awes you.
On this basis they taught:
A king—
they don’t ride his horse, or sit on his throne,
or use his scepter.
Nor may they see him naked, or getting a haircut,
or in the bath house84=M/San.2:5; cf. T.San.4;2
דָּבָר אַחֵר: שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ – מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה.
3. Another word:
“You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)—
this is a prescriptive commandment.
לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת עָלֶיךָ אִישׁ נָכְרִי – מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.
“You will not be permitted to place over yourself a foreign man” (Dt.17:15)—
this is a proscriptive commandment.
אִישׁ נָכְרִי – מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: הָאִישׁ מְמַנִּים פַּרְנָס עַל הַצִּבּוּר, וְאֵין מְמַנִּים הָאִשָּׁה פַּרְנֶסֶת עַל הַצִּבּוּר.
“A foreign man” (Dt.17:15)—
On this basis they taught:
A man may be appointed
to provide for the community,
but they may not appoint a woman
to provide for the community.
(סוטה פ״ז מ״ח) אֲשֶׁר לֹא אָחִיךָ הוּא, כְּשֶׁהָיָה אַגְרִיפַּס מַגִּיעַ לְפָסוּק זֶה הָיָה בּוֹכֶה, וְהָיוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: ״אַל תִּירָא אַגְרִיפַּס, אָחִינוּ אַתָּה, אָחִינוּ אַתָּה!״
4. “Who is not your brother” (Dt.17:15).
When Agrippas [the king] reached this verse,85In his ceremonial reading of the Torah on the Day of Assembly (Dt.31:10-13).
he would weep.
And all Israel would say to him:
Have no fear, Agrippas,
You are our brother!
You are our brother!”86//M. Sotah 7:8.