Parashat Shofetim – Opening Questions

Does Tanakh view the monarchy as a positive or negative institution? While in Devarim Hashem commands, "שׂוֹם תָּשִׂים עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ", in Shemuel, the people's request for a king is found objectionable.
How can one tell if a person is a true or false prophet?
What purpose do the "עָרֵי מִקְלָט" serve? Are they cities of refuge or of exile?
How should the ceremony for dealing with an unsolved murder be understood? Why is a heifer beheaded?
Can a prophet speak in Hashem's name without explicit Divine sanction?
Is Israel obligated, prohibited, or simply permitted to negotiate for peace with the Seven Nations of Canaan?

Parashat Shofetim/Questions