Concerns Regarding the Monarchy/2

Problem With the King

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Rejection of Hashem for Human Military Leader

In requesting a human monarch to fight their wars, the people betrayed a lack of faith in and recognition of Hashem as their warrior and savior.

Sources: R. Eliezer in Bavli SanhedrinSanhedrin 20bAbout the Bavli according to RashiSanhedrin 20bAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RadakShemuel I 8:5About R. David Kimchi, Prof. Y. Elitzur

"וְיָצָא לְפָנֵינוּ וְנִלְחַם אֶת מִלְחֲמֹתֵנוּ" – Rashi and Radak point to these words of the nation as evidence that the people were not requesting a king who would serve a judicial purpose, but rather a military leader. They claim that this focus on the military aspect of the king's leadership is what troubled Hashem.

"שִׂימָה לָּנוּ מֶלֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ" – One might argue that in their initial request, the people actually make no mention of any military role, but only a judicial one (לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ). These sources might answer that the people were using the verb "שפט" in the military sense of the word,¹ asking for a king who would serve as a שופט, like the leaders of the Book of Judges who were mainly saviors in war.

What is wrong with desiring a military leader?

• Radak asserts that the desire for a human warrior displays a lack of trust in Hashem to save them. Shemuel himself says this to the people later when appointing Shaul, " וְאַתֶּם הַיּוֹם מְאַסְתֶּם אֶת אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא מוֹשִׁיעַ לָכֶם מִכׇּל רָעוֹתֵיכֶם וְצָרֹתֵיכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ כִּי מֶלֶךְ תָּשִׂים עָלֵינוּ" ()
• Prof. Elitzur

"וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי שְׁמוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ תְּנָה לָּנוּ מֶלֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ" – This position could explain Shemuel's reaction in one of two ways:

• It is possible that Shemuel understood the people correctly, (with "" שפט having a military connotation) and was upset that the nation wanted to replace their old warrior, Hashem, with a new one.
• Alternatively, it is possible that Shemuel misunderstood the people's request, understanding "לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ" in its judicial sense. He took their request as a personal affront, as he assumed that they found him lacking.

Hashem's response: "כִּי אֹתִי מָאֲסוּ" – According to the approach that Shemuel misunderstood the people's request, Hashem here corrects Shemuel's misconception and explains that people's desire for a king is  really a rejection of Hashem, not Shemuel.

כֵּן הֵמָּה עֹשִׂים גַּם לָךְ

"כְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם" – Radak suggests that the people should not have asked for a king "like all the other nations since they were not like other nations.  As long as they observe Hashem's laws, Hashem will fight for them.  Thus unlike others, Israel does not need a warrior-king.
This approach does not find anything worng with the people's mention

Mishpat haMelekh

Granting a king

Laws in Devarim

Rejection of the Shofet

The people's desire for a king "to judge us" was problematic either because it usurped the institution of judges as a whole, or because it was a personal affront to Shemuel specifically.

Sources: RambamHilkhot Melakhim 1:2About R. Moshe b. Maimon, RambanBeresehit 49:10About R. Moshe b. Nachman, R. Yosef ibn KaspiShemuel I 8:6About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, RanDerashot HaRan 11About R. Nissim Gerondi, Malbim #2Shemuel I 8:6About R. Meir Leibush Weiser, Hoil Moshe

"לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ"

"כְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם"

Shemuel' complaint

Hashem's retort

Rejection of Torah Law

Hashem was upset by the people's request since they desired a king who would be like the other nations and not subject to the laws of Torah.

Sources: R. Nehorai in Sifre Devarim156About Sifre Devarim, RalbagShemuel I 8:4About R. Levi b. Gershom, bishop cited by AbarbanelShemuel I 8:4-6About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, Malbim #3Shemuel I 8:6About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

"כְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם"

"לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ"

Shemuel's complaint

Hashem's response

Wrong Timing

Though there is nothing inherently wrong with the institution of monarchy, in this era of miraculous providence, there was no need for a king.

Sources: R. Yehuda in Sifre Devarim156About Sifre Devarim,² Malbim #1Shemuel I 8:6About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

¹ See Radak's second possibility in explaining the word  "וּשְׁפָטָנוּ" in verse 22: "או פירושו יקח משפטינו מיד אויבינו".  According to this understanding, the last two clauses of the verse, ",וְיָצָא לְפָנֵינוּ וְנִלְחַם אֶת מִלְחֲמֹתֵנוּ" clarify what is meant by the initial phrase, "וּשְׁפָטָנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ" .

² R. Yehuda doe not elaborate as to why this was the wrong time to ask for a king.