Pisqa’ 162116H:194-195; JN2:33. 1. “So that he might not esteem himself above his brothers” (Dt.17:20)— and not above the consecrated [Priesthood].117The 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)118In Biblical Hebrew, a common particle of negation, as described in BDB, s.v. beilet. 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. 119Sifre offers a paraphrastic rendering of the biblical usage, substituting the archaizing bilti with an equivalent in rabbinic Hebrew.
“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.120Cf. Pisqa’ot 156.1, 162.1, 170.1, 174.1, 297.1, etc.
“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? The Teaching states: “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.121Cf. 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).
(דברים יז כ) לְבִלְתִּי רוּם לְבָבוֹ מֵאֶחָיו – וְלֹא מִשֶּׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ.
Pisqa’ 162116H:194-195; JN2:33.
1. “So that he might not esteem himself above his brothers” (Dt.17:20)—
and not above the consecrated [Priesthood].117The 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.
וּלְבִלְתִּי סוּר מִן הַמִּצְוָה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול – שֶׁלֹּא יָסוּר מִן הַמִּצְוָה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול.
“Excepting that (bilti)118In Biblical Hebrew, a common particle of negation, as described in BDB, s.v. beilet. 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. 119Sifre offers a paraphrastic rendering of the biblical usage, substituting the archaizing bilti with an equivalent in rabbinic Hebrew.
לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל מַמְלַכְתּוֹ, אִם עוֹשֶׂה הוּא מַה שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּעִנְיָן – כְּדַי הוּא שֶׁיַּאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל מַמְלַכְתּוֹ.
“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.120Cf. Pisqa’ot 156.1, 162.1, 170.1, 174.1, 297.1, etc.
הוּא וּבָנָיו – שֶׁאִם מֵת, בְּנוֹ עוֹמֵד תַּחְתָּיו. וְאֵין לִי אֶלָּא זֶה בִּלְבַד, מִנַּיִן לְכָל פַּרְנָסֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבְּנֵיהֶם עוֹמְדִים תַּחְתֵּיהֶם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: הוּא וּבָנָיו בְּקֶרֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל – כָּל שֶׁהוּא בְּקֶרֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל – בְּנוֹ עוֹמֵד תַּחְתָּיו.
“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?
The Teaching states:
“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. 121Cf. T. Sheq. 2:15
רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלכים א ג יג): ״גַּם אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁאַלְתָּ נָתַתִּי לָךְ גַּם עֹשֶׁר גַּם כָּבוֹד״ – עַל מַה שֶׁלֹּא הִתְנֵיתִי בַּתּוֹרָה לִתֵּן – נָתַתִּי לָךְ, עַל מַה שֶׁהִתְנֵיתִי לִתֵּן – אֵינִי נוֹתֵן לְךָ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן עָשִׂיתָ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מלכים א ג יד): ״וְאַתָּה אִם תֵּלֵךְ בִּדְרָכַי...״.
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).