R. Shimon says: even one— if she leads his heart astray [from Torah], he should not marry her! If so, why is it stated: “He is not to have himself many wives” (Dt.17:17)? Even wives like Abigail (1Sam.25:1-42)!90=M. San.2:4; cf. T San.4:5. “He is not to have himself many wives” (Dt.17:17)— even wives like Abigail and her companions, who were upstanding— he should avoid marrying her! As for the likes of Jezebel and her companions, who were wicked (e.g., 1Ki.16:31-33)— she would certainly lead his heart astray [from Torah].91In many versions, this material is lacking; moreover, it is redundant.
2. “And he should not amass for himself much silver and gold” (Dt.17:17). Is it possible to say that he should not amass for himself wealth in order to provision his army? The Teaching states: “He should not amass for himself” (Dt.17:17)— for himself he may not amass wealth, but he may amass wealth in order to provision his army.92//M. San.2:4. Another word: In order to provision his army? The Teaching states: “He should not amass for himself” (Dt.17:17). For himself he may not amass wealth, but he may amass wealth in order to provision his army.93//M San.:2:4. And this is what David did, as it is said: “Indeed, though unworthy, I have provisioned the Abode of HASHEM with gold, at a hundred thousand ingots, and with silver at a thousand thousand ingots” (1Chron.22:14) . But Solomon devalued the currency, in accord with what is said: “And he made silver in Jerusalem as common as stones” (1Ki.10:26).94The bold-face portion of 159.2 is shared with F:210, ls. 10-11.
(דברים יז יז) וְלֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ נָשִׁים – אֶלָּא שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה.
Pisqa’ 15989H:193; JN2:28.
1. “And he is not to have himself many wives” (Dt.17:17)—
well, not more than eighteen.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מַרְבֶּה הוּא לוֹ, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ מְסִירוֹת אֶת לִבּוֹ.
R. Judah says:
a king surely may have himself many wives,
as long as they do not lead his heart astray [from Torah].
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אֲפִלּוּ אַחַת וְהִיא מְסִירָה אֶת לִבּוֹ – לֹא יִשָּׂאֶנָּה. אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ נָשִׁים? אֲפִלּוּ כַּאֲבִיגַיִל. לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ נָשִׁים – אֲפִלּוּ כַּאֲבִיגַיִל וְחַבְרוֹתֶיהָ, שֶׁהֵן כְּשֵׁרוֹת, לֹא יִשָּׂאֶנָּה. וּכְגוֹן אִיזֶבֶל וְחַבְרוֹתֶיהָ, שֶׁהֵן רָעוֹת – הִיא מְסִירָה לִבּוֹ.
R. Shimon says:
even one—
if she leads his heart astray [from Torah],
he should not marry her!
If so, why is it stated:
“He is not to have himself many wives” (Dt.17:17)?
Even wives like Abigail (1Sam.25:1-42)!90=M. San.2:4; cf. T San.4:5.
“He is not to have himself many wives” (Dt.17:17)—
even wives like Abigail and her companions,
who were upstanding—
he should avoid marrying her!
As for the likes of Jezebel and her companions,
who were wicked (e.g., 1Ki.16:31-33)—
she would certainly
lead his heart astray [from Torah].91In many versions, this material is lacking; moreover, it is redundant.
וְכֶסֶף וְזָהָב לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ מְאֹד, יָכוֹל לֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ כְּדֵי לִתֵּן לָאַפְסַנְיָא? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ, לוֹ אֵינוֹ מַרְבֶּה, אֲבָל מַרְבֶּה הוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָאַפְסַנְיָא. דָּבָר אַחֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָאַפְסַנְיָא? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ, לוֹ אֵינוֹ מַרְבֶּה, אֲבָל מַרְבֶּה הוּא לָאַפְסַנְיוֹת. וְכֵן עָשָׂה דָוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א כב יד): ״וְהִנֵּה בְעָנְיִי הֲכִינוֹתִי לְבֵית ה׳״ אֲבָל שְׁלֹמֹה שִׁנָּה, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א י כז): ״וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הַכֶּסֶף בִּירוּשָׁלִַם כָּאֲבָנִים״.
2. “And he should not amass for himself much silver and gold” (Dt.17:17).
Is it possible to say that
he should not amass for himself wealth
in order to provision his army?
The Teaching states:
“He should not amass for himself” (Dt.17:17)—
for himself he may not amass wealth,
but he may amass wealth
in order to provision his army.92//M. San.2:4.
Another word:
In order to provision his army?
The Teaching states:
“He should not amass for himself” (Dt.17:17).
For himself he may not amass wealth,
but he may amass wealth
in order to provision his army.93//M San.:2:4.
And this is what David did,
as it is said:
“Indeed, though unworthy, I have provisioned
the Abode of HASHEM with gold,
at a hundred thousand ingots,
and with silver
at a thousand thousand ingots” (1Chron.22:14) .
But Solomon devalued the currency,
in accord with what is said:
“And he made silver in Jerusalem
as common as stones” (1Ki.10:26).94The bold-face portion of 159.2 is shared with F:210, ls. 10-11.