The High Priest may judge and be judged [himself]; may testify and others may testify against him; may perform chalitzah [declination of levirate marriage] and others may perform chalitzah for his widow; and others may marry her through levirate marriage, but he may not marry another through levirate marriage, because he is forbidden to marry a widow. [When his relative] dies, he may not follow the bier; rather, when they are concealed [from his view] he may be present, and once they appear he must be concealed [from their view], and he may follow them [in this manner] until the opening [gates] of the city. These are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says, he may not leave from the Temple, as it says, (Leviticus 21:12) "And from the Temple, he may not leave." When he comforts other [mourners], it is the custom that all the people pass by one after one, and the appointed [substitute High Priest] interposes himself between [the High Priest] and the people. When he is being comforted by others, all the people say to him, "We are your atonement," and he says to them, "From heaven shall you be blessed." And when he is fed in comfort, all the people sit on the ground, and he sits on the stool.

The king may not judge nor be judged himself; may not testify, nor may others testify against him; may not perform chalitzah, nor may others perform chalitzah for his wife; and may not marry through levirate marriage, nor may others marry his wife through levirate marriage. Rabbi Yehudah says, if he wishes to perform chalitzah or marry through Levirate marriage, he is remembered for good [i.e. it is meritorious]. [The Sages] said to him: We do not listen to [the king in this respect]. And none may marry his widow. Rabbi Yehudah says, a king may marry the widow of [another] king, for thus we find with respect to David, who married the widow of Saul, as it says (II Samuel 12:8), "And I gave you the house of your master, and the wives of your master in your bosom."

[When his relative] dies, he may not go out from the opening of his palace. Rabbi Yehudah says, if he wishes to go out to follow the bier, he may, for thus we find with respect to David, for David went out to follow the bier of Abner, as it says, (II Samuel 3:31), "And King David followed the bier." [The Sages] said to him: that matter was only done to appease the people. And when he is fed in comfort, all the people sit on the ground, and he sits on a couch.

[The King] may lead [the people] out to an optional war with the consent of the court of seventy-one. He can break through [private property] to build a road, and none may object. The king's road has no measure. And everything that the nation plunders, they place in front of him, and he takes the first portion. "He may not amass too many wives" (Deuteronomy 17:17), only eighteen. Rabbi Yehudah says, he may amass more, so long as they do not lead his heart astray. Rabbi Shimon says, even one who leads his heart astray he may not marry. If so, why does it say, (Deuteronomy 17:17) "He may not amass too many wives"? [This condition applies even if she is] like Abigail. "He may not amass too many horses" (Deuteronomy 17:16), only enough for his chariots. "And excessive silver and gold he may not amass" (Deuteronomy 17:17), only enough to pay his soldiers' wages. He must write a Torah scroll for himself. [When] he goes to war, he takes it out with him. [When] he enters, he brings it with him. [When] he sits in judgment, it is with him. [When] he sits [at a meal], it is opposite him, as it says, (Deuteronomy 17:16), "And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life."

No one may ride his horse; and no one may sit on his throne; and no one may use his scepter; and no one may look at him while his hair is being cut, nor while he is nude, nor while he is in the bathhouse, as it says, (Deuteronomy 17:16) "Set a king over yourself," [such that] his awe shall be over you.