Pisqa’ 162¹¹⁶

1. “So that he might not esteem himself above his brothers” (Dt. 17:20)— and not above the consecrated [Priesthood].¹¹⁷

footnotes: ¹¹⁶ H:194-195; JN2:33. ¹¹⁷ The text is difficult, but appears to caution the king against conflict with the High Priest. See H:454, n. 1, for a summary of interpretive options. Cf., most recently, Fraade: 245, n. 117.

“Excepting that (bilti)¹¹⁸. he not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left” (Dt. 17:20)— and he must not (shelo’) turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left. ¹¹⁹ with an equivalent in rabbinic Hebrew.

footnotes: ¹¹⁸ In Biblical Hebrew, a common particle of negation, as described in BDB, s.v. beilet ¹¹⁹ Sifre offers a paraphrastic rendering of the biblical usage, substituting the archaizing bilti

“So that he might extend days over his kingdom” (Dt. 17:20)— if he behaves according to all the stipulations in this matter, he will be privileged to lengthen days over his kingdom.¹²⁰ 156.1, 162.1, 170.1, 174.1, 297.1, etc.

footnotes: ¹²⁰ Cf. Pisqa’ot

“He and his sons” (Dt. 17:20)— if he dies, his son will stand to succeed him. I might infer that this principle of succession applies only to the king. On what basis do I know of any providers of Israel that their sons will stand to succeed them?

“He and his sons, in the midst of Israel” (Dt. 17:20)— any provider who is in the midst of Israel, his son will stand to succeed him. ¹²¹

footnotes: ¹²¹ Cf. T. Sheq. 2:15

2. R. Hananya b. Gamliel says: Look at what He says to King Solomon— “And, also, I gave you what you didn’t request—wealth and honor” (1Ki. 3:13). As if to say: good things, which I didn’t make conditional upon your observance of the Torah, I have freely given you; but good things which I did make conditional upon your observance of the Torah, I will not give them to you— unless you observe it! And, similarly, He says: “And if you walk in My paths, observing my statutes” (1Ki. 3:14).