Pisqa’ 157⁸²

1. “You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt. 17:15)— and if he dies, appoint another in his place.

footnotes: ⁸² H:192; JN2:25-26

“A king” (Dt. 17:15)— but not a queen.

“Whom HASHEM your God shall choose” (Dt. 17:15)— according to the guidance of a prophet.

“From among your brothers” (Dt. 17:15)— but not an Israelite from beyond the Land.

“From among your brothers” (Dt. 17:15)— but not from [gentile] outsiders.⁸³. 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.”

footnotes: ⁸³ A literal rendering of the Hebrew: ‘akheirim

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

footnotes: ⁸⁴ =M/San.2:5; cf. T.San.4;2

3. Another word: “You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt. 17:15)— this is a prescriptive commandment.

“You will not be permitted to place over yourself a foreign man” (Dt. 17:15)— this is a proscriptive commandment.

“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,**⁸⁵ he would weep.

Have no fear, Agrippas, You are our brother! **You are our brother!”**⁸⁶

footnotes: ⁸⁵ In his ceremonial reading of the Torah on the Day of Assembly (Dt. 31:10-13). ⁸⁶ //M. Sotah 7:8.