One the one hand, Chazal teach us that appointing a king is one of the 613 mitzvos, yet on the other hand, the Torah presents the idea of appointing a king as a response to the demands of the people, "V'amarta asima alay melech…", implying that where there is no demand, there is no requirement to appoint a king. The Netziv explains that there is no contradiction. The mitzvah of appointing a king does not require imposing a monarchy willy-nilly. There is a built-in condition to the mitzvah that calls it into effect only should the people demand a monarchy. In some countries a democracy may be the preferred form of government, in other countries other systems may work. However, should the people demand a king, the Sanhedrin is commanded to then act on that demand and put in place a monarchy which conforms to the principles set down in our parsha.
[This post has been updated - the idea of an issur aseh which I mentioned originally is in fact rejected by the Netziv.]
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R'Shachter (in Bikvei ha-tzon, I think) also points out based on a Ramban in parshas Korach that the mitzvah of a melech does not require an actual king but rather a Jewish government.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is a Machloket Rishonim. The Rambam does call appointing a king a mitzvah. The latter opinion would seem easier to reconcile with the 2nd perek of Sanhedrin.
ReplyDeleteI think this may also be tied into the various opinions of the source of "Dina d'malchuta"
Anything for Reb Tzodik Yahertzeit?
ReplyDeleteMaybe an Elul Rosh Hashanah shtikle?
I wish I had time... :(
ReplyDelete