Pisqa’ 157¹

1

“You should indeed place over yourself a king” (Dt.17:15)—

and if he dies, appoint another in his place.

“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.²

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 house³

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,⁴

he would weep.

And all Israel would say to him:

Have no fear, Agrippas,

You are our brother!

You are our brother!”⁵

1. H:192; JN2:25-26
2. A 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.”
3. =M/San.2:5; cf. T.San.4;2
4. In his ceremonial reading of the Torah on the Day of Assembly (Dt.31:10-13).
5. //M. Sotah 7:8.