Getting a King
(יד) כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣א אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה' אֱלֹקֶ֙יךָ֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֔ךְ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ וְיָשַׁ֣בְתָּה בָּ֑הּ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ אָשִׂ֤ימָה עָלַי֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִיבֹתָֽי׃ (טו) שׂ֣וֹם תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ בּ֑וֹ מִקֶּ֣רֶב אַחֶ֗יךָ תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א תוּכַ֗ל לָתֵ֤ת עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נׇכְרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־אָחִ֖יךָ הֽוּא׃
(14) If, after you have entered the land that your God has assigned to you, and taken possession of it and settled in it, you decide, “I will set a king over me, as do all the nations about me,” (15) you shall be free to set a king over yourself, one chosen by your God. Be sure to set as king over yourself one of your own people; you must not set a foreigner over you, one who is not your kin.
(ד) ואמרת אשימה עלי מלך ככל וגו'. (סנהדרין נב) ר' נהוראי אומר, ה בגנאי ישראל הוא מדבר, שנאמר (שמואל א ח) כי לא אותך מאסו, כי אותי מאסו ממלוך עליהם.
(ה) אמר ר' יהודה, והלא מצוה היא מן התורה לשאול להם מלך, שנאמר שום תשים עליך מלך אשר יבחר ה' א-להיך בו, ולמה נענשו בימי שמואל? מפני שהקדימו על ידם.
(ו) ככל הגוים אשר סביבותי. ר' נהוראי אומר, לא בקשו להם מלך אלא להעבידם עבודת כוכבים, שנא' (שמואל א ח׳:כ׳) והיינו גם אנחנו ככל הגוים ושפטנו מלכנו ויצא לפנינו ונלחם את מלחמותינו.
(4) "and you say: I shall place over myself a king, as all the nations that are around me": R. Nehorai says: This verse speaks in denigration of Israel, as in (I Samuel 8:7) "For it is not you (Samuel) that they have rejected (in asking for a king), but it is Me whom they have rejected from reigning over them."
(5) R. Yehudah said: Is it not a mitzvah of the Torah to ask for a king? viz. (Ibid. 15) "Place shall you place over yourself a king, whom the L-rd your G-d shall choose"? Why, then, was Israel punished for this in the days of Samuel? — Because they (the "ignoramuses" of that generation) preempted them (the elders) by placing "like all the nations that are around us" (before "to judge us").
(6) R. Nehorai said: They sought a king only to lead them to idolatry, as it is written (I Samuel, Ibid. 20) "And we, too, will be like all the nations, and our king will judge us and go out before us, and fight our wars."
(ה) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּה֙ אַתָּ֣ה זָקַ֔נְתָּ וּבָנֶ֕יךָ לֹ֥א הָלְכ֖וּ בִּדְרָכֶ֑יךָ עַתָּ֗ה שִֽׂימָה־לָּ֥נוּ מֶ֛לֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵ֖נוּ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ (ו) וַיֵּ֤רַע הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽמְר֔וּ תְּנָה־לָּ֥נוּ מֶ֖לֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵ֑נוּ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל־ה'׃ {פ}
(ז) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה' אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל שְׁמַע֙ בְּק֣וֹל הָעָ֔ם לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אֹֽתְךָ֙ מָאָ֔סוּ כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָאֲס֖וּ מִמְּלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (ח) כְּכׇֽל־הַמַּעֲשִׂ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֗וּ מִיּוֹם֩ הַעֲלֹתִ֨י אוֹתָ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיַּ֣עַזְבֻ֔נִי וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֱלֹקִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים כֵּ֛ן הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִׂ֖ים גַּם־לָֽךְ׃ (ט) וְעַתָּ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקוֹלָ֑ם אַ֗ךְ כִּֽי־הָעֵ֤ד תָּעִיד֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּ֣ט הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְלֹ֖ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}
(ז) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה' אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל שְׁמַע֙ בְּק֣וֹל הָעָ֔ם לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אֹֽתְךָ֙ מָאָ֔סוּ כִּי־אֹתִ֥י מָאֲס֖וּ מִמְּלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (ח) כְּכׇֽל־הַמַּעֲשִׂ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֗וּ מִיּוֹם֩ הַעֲלֹתִ֨י אוֹתָ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיַּ֣עַזְבֻ֔נִי וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֱלֹקִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים כֵּ֛ן הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִׂ֖ים גַּם־לָֽךְ׃ (ט) וְעַתָּ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקוֹלָ֑ם אַ֗ךְ כִּֽי־הָעֵ֤ד תָּעִיד֙ בָּהֶ֔ם וְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּ֣ט הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְלֹ֖ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}
(5) and they said to him, “You have grown old, and your sons have not followed your ways. Therefore appoint a king for us, to govern us like all other nations.” (6) Samuel was displeased that they said “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD, (7) and the LORD replied to Samuel, “Heed the demand of the people in everything they say to you. For it is not you that they have rejected; it is Me they have rejected as their king. (8) Like everything else they have done ever since I brought them out of Egypt to this day—forsaking Me and worshiping other gods—so they are doing to you. (9) Heed their demand; but warn them solemnly, and tell them about the practices of any king who will rule over them.”
(כ) וְהָיִ֥ינוּ גַם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּ מַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְיָצָ֣א לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַ֖ם אֶת־מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃
(20) that we may be like all the other nations: Let our king rule over us and go out at our head and fight our battles.”
תניא רבי יוסי אומר שלש מצות נצטוו ישראל בכניסתן לארץ להעמיד להם מלך ולהכרית זרעו של עמלק ולבנות להם בית הבחירה ואיני יודע איזה מהן תחילה כשהוא אומר (שמות יז, טז) כי יד על כס יה מלחמה לה' בעמלק הוי אומר להעמיד להם מלך תחילה ואין כסא אלא מלך שנאמר (דברי הימים א כט, כג) וישב שלמה על כסא ה' למלך ועדיין איני יודע אם לבנות להם בית הבחירה תחלה או להכרית זרעו של עמלק תחלה כשהוא אומר (דברים יב, י) והניח לכם מכל אויביכם וגו' והיה המקום אשר יבחר ה' וגו' הוי אומר להכרית זרעו של עמלק תחלה
It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yosei says: Three mitzvot were commanded to the Jewish people upon their entrance into Eretz Yisrael: To establish a king for themselves, and to cut off the seed of Amalek in war, and to build for themselves the Chosen House in Jerusalem. But I do not know which one they are obligated to do first. When the verse states: “The hand upon the throne [kes] of the Lord: The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:16), you must say that this means they are obligated to establish a king for themselves first, before waging war with Amalek, and the verse is interpreted as follows: “Throne of the Lord” is nothing other than a symbolic name for a king, as it is stated: “Then Solomon sat on the throne [kisei] of the Lord as king” (I Chronicles 29:23), indicating that a king sits on “the throne of the Lord.” The baraita continues: And still I do not know whether building them the Chosen House is first, or cutting off the seed of Amalek is first, i.e., after the appointing of the king. When the verse states: “And He will give you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety; then it shall come to pass that the place that the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there, there shall you bring all that I command you” (Deuteronomy 12:10–11), you must say that the Jewish people were to cut off the seed of Amalek first.
(א) היא שצונו למנות עלינו מלך יקבץ כל אומתנו וינהיגנו. והוא אמרו יתברך שום תשים עליך מלך. וכבר קדם לנו לשונם בספרי שלש מצות נצטוו ישראל בכניסתן לארץ, למנות עליהם מלך ולבנות להם בית הבחירה ולהכרית זרעו של עמלק. ולשון ספרי שום תשים עליך מלך שתהא אימתו מוטלת עליך. ושיאויים לבנו מהכבוד והגדולה והתהלה והמעלה עד התכלית האחרון שאין למעלה הימנה עד שתהיה מדרגתו אצלנו גדולה ממדרגת הנביא ומשאר הנביאים שיהיו בדורו ובבאור אמרו מלך קודם לנביא. כל זמן שיהיה מצות המלך צווי שלא יהיה סותר מצוה מן התורה הנה אנחנו חייבין לשמוע מצותו, ומי שיעבור על מצותו ולא ישמע אליו הנה ראוי ומותר למלך להרוג כמו שירצה כמו שאמרו ישראל על עצמן כל איש אשר ימרה את פיך וגו' וכל מורד במלכות יהיה דמו מותר למלך שהוקם על פי התורה. וכבר התבארו משפטי מצוה זו בסנהדרין ובפ"א מכריתות וז' מסוטה. (שופטים ושוטרים, הלכות מלכים פ"א):
(1) ...Anytime that the commandment of the king does not contradict a commandment of the Torah, we are surely obligated to listen to his commandment. And one who transgresses his commandment and does not listen to him is surely fit - and it is permissible - for the king to kill [him] as he wishes; and as Israel said about themselves (Joshua 1:18), "Any man who flouts your commands, etc." And anyone who rebels against the monarchy can have his blood avenged by a king who was established according to the Torah...
Becoming the King
(א) וַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־פַּ֥ךְ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶן וַיִּצֹ֥ק עַל־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הֲל֗וֹא כִּֽי־מְשָׁחֲךָ֧ ה' עַל־נַחֲלָת֖וֹ לְנָגִֽיד׃
(1) Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some on Saul’s head and kissed him, and said, “The LORD herewith anoints you ruler-b over His own people.
(יב) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח וַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙ וְה֣וּא אַדְמוֹנִ֔י עִם־יְפֵ֥ה עֵינַ֖יִם וְט֣וֹב רֹ֑אִי {פ}
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ה' ק֥וּם מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ כִּי־זֶ֥ה הֽוּא׃ (יג) וַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־קֶ֣רֶן הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח אֹתוֹ֮ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָיו֒ וַתִּצְלַ֤ח רֽוּחַ־ה' אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיָּ֣קׇם שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ה' ק֥וּם מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ כִּי־זֶ֥ה הֽוּא׃ (יג) וַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־קֶ֣רֶן הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח אֹתוֹ֮ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָיו֒ וַתִּצְלַ֤ח רֽוּחַ־ה' אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיָּ֣קׇם שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃
(12) So they sent and brought him. He was ruddy-cheeked, bright-eyed,-b and handsome. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.” (13) Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD gripped David from that day on. Samuel then set out for Ramah.
(ו) וַיֹּ֜אמֶר הַנַּ֣עַר ׀ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֗וֹ נִקְרֹ֤א נִקְרֵ֙יתִי֙ בְּהַ֣ר הַגִּלְבֹּ֔עַ וְהִנֵּ֥ה שָׁא֖וּל נִשְׁעָ֣ן עַל־חֲנִית֑וֹ וְהִנֵּ֥ה הָרֶ֛כֶב וּבַעֲלֵ֥י הַפָּרָשִׁ֖ים הִדְבִּקֻֽהוּ׃ (ז) וַיִּ֥פֶן אַחֲרָ֖יו וַיִּרְאֵ֑נִי וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֵלַ֔י וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ (ח) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֖י מִי־אָ֑תָּה (ויאמר) [וָאֹמַ֣ר] אֵלָ֔יו עֲמָלֵקִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י עֲמׇד־נָ֤א עָלַי֙ וּמֹ֣תְתֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י אֲחָזַ֖נִי הַשָּׁבָ֑ץ כִּֽי־כׇל־ע֥וֹד נַפְשִׁ֖י בִּֽי׃ (י) וָאֶעֱמֹ֤ד עָלָיו֙ וַאֲמֹ֣תְתֵ֔הוּ כִּ֣י יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽחְיֶ֖ה אַחֲרֵ֣י נִפְל֑וֹ וָאֶקַּ֞ח הַנֵּ֣זֶר ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְאֶצְעָדָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־זְרֹע֔וֹ וָאֲבִיאֵ֥ם אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֖י הֵֽנָּה׃
(6) The young man who brought him the news answered, “I happened to be at Mount Gilboa, and I saw Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen closing in on him. (7) He looked around and saw me, and he called to me. When I responded, ‘At your service,’ (8) he asked me, ‘Who are you?’ And I told him that I was an Amalekite. (9) Then he said to me, ‘Stand over me, and finish me off, for I am in agony and am barely alive.’-a (10) So I stood over him and finished him off, for I knew that he would never rise from where he was lying.-a Then I took the crown from his head and the armlet from his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
(י) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכׇל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשׇׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃
(10) But Absalom sent agents to all the tribes of Israel to say, “When you hear the blast of the horn, announce that Absalom has become king in Hebron.”
(יא) וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָשַׁ֣חְנוּ עָלֵ֔ינוּ מֵ֖ת בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְעַתָּ֗ה לָמָ֥ה אַתֶּ֛ם מַחֲרִשִׁ֖ים לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}
(11) But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle; why then do you sit idle instead of escorting the king back?”
(לח) וַיֵּ֣רֶד צָד֣וֹק הַ֠כֹּהֵ֠ן וְנָתָ֨ן הַנָּבִ֜יא וּבְנָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֗ע וְהַכְּרֵתִי֙ וְהַפְּלֵתִ֔י וַיַּרְכִּ֙בוּ֙ אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה עַל־פִּרְדַּ֖ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֹּלִ֥כוּ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־גִּחֽוֹן׃ (לט) וַיִּקַּח֩ צָד֨וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־קֶ֤רֶן הַשֶּׁ֙מֶן֙ מִן־הָאֹ֔הֶל וַיִּמְשַׁ֖ח אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם יְחִ֖י הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (מ) וַיַּעֲל֤וּ כׇל־הָעָם֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְהָעָם֙ מְחַלְּלִ֣ים בַּחֲלִלִ֔ים וּשְׂמֵחִ֖ים שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ בְּקוֹלָֽם׃
(38) Then the priest Zadok, and the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down with the Cherethites and the Pelethites. They had Solomon ride on King David’s mule and they led him to Gihon. (39) The priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the Tent and anointed Solomon. They sounded the horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” (40) All the people then marched up behind him, playing on flutes and making merry till the earth was split open by the uproar.
(כב) וַיֹּאכְל֨וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֜וּ לִפְנֵ֧י ה' בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַיַּמְלִ֤יכוּ שֵׁנִית֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־דָּוִ֔יד וַיִּמְשְׁח֧וּ לַה' לְנָגִ֖יד וּלְצָד֥וֹק לְכֹהֵֽן׃ (כג) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב שְׁ֠לֹמֹ֠ה עַל־כִּסֵּ֨א ה' ׀ לְמֶ֛לֶךְ תַּחַת־דָּוִ֥יד אָבִ֖יו וַיַּצְלַ֑ח וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כד) וְכׇל־הַשָּׂרִים֙ וְהַגִּבֹּרִ֔ים וְגַ֕ם כׇּל־בְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑יד נָ֣תְנוּ יָ֔ד תַּ֖חַת שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (כה) וַיְגַדֵּ֨ל ה' אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לְמַ֔עְלָה לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ ה֣וֹד מַלְכ֔וּת אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹא־הָיָ֧ה עַל־כׇּל־מֶ֛לֶךְ לְפָנָ֖יו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}
(22) and they ate and drank in the presence of the LORD on that day with great joy. They again proclaimed Solomon son of David king, and they anointed him as ruler before the LORD, and Zadok as high priest. (23) Solomon successfully took over the throne of the LORD as king instead of his father David, and all went well with him. All Israel accepted him; (24) all the officials and the warriors, and the sons of King David as well, gave their hand in support of King Solomon. (25) The LORD made Solomon exceedingly great in the eyes of all Israel, and endowed him with a regal majesty that no king of Israel before him ever had.
(יא) צְאֶ֧נָה ׀ וּֽרְאֶ֛ינָה בְּנ֥וֹת צִיּ֖וֹן בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה בָּעֲטָרָ֗ה שֶׁעִטְּרָה־לּ֤וֹ אִמּוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם חֲתֻנָּת֔וֹ וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ׃ {ס}
(11) O maidens of Zion, go forth
And gaze upon King Solomon
Wearing the crown that his mother
Gave him on his wedding day,
On his day of bliss.
And gaze upon King Solomon
Wearing the crown that his mother
Gave him on his wedding day,
On his day of bliss.
(כ) וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־שָׁ֣ב יָרׇבְעָ֔ם וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֗וּ וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א הָיָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י בֵית־דָּוִ֔ד זוּלָתִ֥י שֵׁבֶט־יְהוּדָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃
(20) When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent messengers and summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the House of David.
(טז) וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע הָעָם֙ הַחֹנִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֔ר קָשַׁ֣ר זִמְרִ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִכָּ֣ה אֶת־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּמְלִ֣כוּ כׇֽל־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל אֶת־עׇמְרִ֨י שַׂר־צָבָ֧א עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
(16) When the troops who were encamped there learned that Zimri had committed treason and had struck down the king, that very day, in the camp, all Israel acclaimed the army commander Omri king over Israel.
(טז) וְאֵת֙ יֵה֣וּא בֶן־נִמְשִׁ֔י תִּמְשַׁ֥ח לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֶת־אֱלִישָׁ֤ע בֶּן־שָׁפָט֙ מֵאָבֵ֣ל מְחוֹלָ֔ה תִּמְשַׁ֥ח לְנָבִ֖יא תַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃
(16) Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.
(א) וֶאֱלִישָׁע֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא קָרָ֕א לְאַחַ֖ד מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ חֲגֹ֣ר מׇתְנֶ֗יךָ וְ֠קַ֠ח פַּ֣ךְ הַשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְלֵ֖ךְ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃ (ב) וּבָ֖אתָ־שָּׁ֑מָּה וּרְאֵה־שָׁ֠ם יֵה֨וּא בֶן־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֜ט בֶּן־נִמְשִׁ֗י וּבָ֙אתָ֙ וַהֲקֵֽמֹתוֹ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ אֶחָ֔יו וְהֵבֵיאתָ֥ אֹת֖וֹ חֶ֥דֶר בְּחָֽדֶר׃ (ג) וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ פַךְ־הַשֶּׁ֙מֶן֙ וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ כֹּה־אָמַ֣ר ה' מְשַׁחְתִּ֥יךָ לְמֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּפָתַחְתָּ֥ הַדֶּ֛לֶת וְנַ֖סְתָּה וְלֹ֥א תְחַכֶּֽה׃ (ד) וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ הַנַּ֛עַר הַנַּ֥עַר הַנָּבִ֖יא רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃ (ה) וַיָּבֹ֗א וְהִנֵּ֨ה שָׂרֵ֤י הַחַ֙יִל֙ יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דָּבָ֥ר לִ֛י אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַשָּׂ֑ר וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֵהוּא֙ אֶל־מִ֣י מִכֻּלָּ֔נוּ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֶ֥יךָ הַשָּֽׂר׃ (ו) וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣א הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיִּצֹ֥ק הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן אֶל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר ה' אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מְשַׁחְתִּ֧יךָ לְמֶ֛לֶךְ אֶל־עַ֥ם ה' אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(1) Then the prophet Elisha summoned one of the disciples of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your skirts, and take along this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. (2) When you arrive there, go and see Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi; get him to leave his comrades, and take him into an inner room. (3) Then take the flask of oil and pour some on his head, and say, ‘Thus said GOD: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee without delay.” (4) The young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. (5) When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.” “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. He answered, “For you, commander.” (6) So [Jehu] arose and went inside; and [the disciple] poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of GOD, over Israel.
(א) וַיַּמְלִ֩יכוּ֩ יוֹשְׁבֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלַ֜͏ִם אֶת־אֲחַזְיָ֨הוּ בְנ֤וֹ הַקָּטֹן֙ תַּחְתָּ֔יו כִּ֤י כׇל־הָרִֽאשֹׁנִים֙ הָרַ֣ג הַגְּד֔וּד הַבָּ֥א בָעַרְבִ֖ים לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֲחַזְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹרָ֖ם מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃ {פ}
(1) The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his stead, because all the older ones had been killed by the troops that penetrated the camp with the Arabs. Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.
(ט) וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ שָׂרֵ֣י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֗וֹת] כְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה֮ יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵן֒ וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו בָּאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת עִ֖ם יֹצְאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־יְהוֹיָדָ֥ע הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (י) וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן לְשָׂרֵ֣י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֗וֹת] אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ וְאֶת־הַשְּׁלָטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֥ית ה'׃ (יא) וַיַּעַמְד֨וּ הָרָצִ֜ים אִ֣ישׁ ׀ וְכֵלָ֣יו בְּיָד֗וֹ מִכֶּ֨תֶף הַבַּ֤יִת הַיְמָנִית֙ עַד־כֶּ֤תֶף הַבַּ֙יִת֙ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔ית לַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וְלַבָּ֑יִת עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סָבִֽיב׃ (יב) וַיּוֹצִ֣א אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֥כוּ אֹת֖וֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֑הוּ וַיַּ֨כּוּ־כָ֔ף וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}
(9) The chiefs of hundreds did just as Jehoiada ordered: Each took his men—those who were on duty that week and those who were off duty that week—and they presented themselves to Jehoiada the priest. (10) The priest gave the chiefs of hundreds King David’s spears and quivers that were kept in the House of GOD. (11) The guards, with their arms at the ready, stationed themselves—from the south end of the House to the north end of the House, at the altar and the House—to guard the king on every side. (12) [Jehoiada] then brought out the king’s son, and placed upon him the crown and the insignia. They anointed him and proclaimed him king; they clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
(יא) וַיּוֹצִ֣יאוּ אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֖יכוּ אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֙הוּ֙ יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע וּבָנָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}
(11) Then they brought out the king’s son, and placed upon him the crown and the insignia. They proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
(א) וַיִּקְח֞וּ כׇּל־עַ֤ם יְהוּדָה֙ אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וְה֕וּא בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וַיַּמְלִ֣יכוּ אֹת֔וֹ תַּ֖חַת אָבִ֥יו אֲמַצְיָֽהוּ׃
(1) Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and proclaimed him king to succeed his father Amaziah.
(ל) וַיַּרְכִּבֻ֨הוּ עֲבָדָ֥יו מֵת֙ מִמְּגִדּ֔וֹ וַיְבִאֻ֙הוּ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֖הוּ בִּקְבֻרָת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח עַם־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־יְהֽוֹאָחָז֙ בֶּן־יֹ֣אשִׁיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת אָבִֽיו׃ {פ}
(30) His servants conveyed his body in a chariot from Megiddo to Jerusalem, and they buried him in his tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz; they anointed him and made him king in place of his father.
(כ) ר֤וּחַ אַפֵּ֙ינוּ֙ מְשִׁ֣יחַ ה' נִלְכַּ֖ד בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְנוּ בְּצִלּ֖וֹ נִֽחְיֶ֥ה בַגּוֹיִֽם׃ {ס}
(20) The breath of our life, the LORD’s anointed,
Was captured in their traps—
He in whose shade we had thought
To live among the nations.
Was captured in their traps—
He in whose shade we had thought
To live among the nations.
מְשִׁיחַ ה'. הוּא יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים "וַיְקוֹנֵן יִרְמְיָהוּ עַל יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ":
Hashem’s anointed. That is Yoshiyahu, as it is stated in Divrei Hayomim, “And Yirmiyahu lamented over Yoshiyahu.”
Anointing the King
ובו נמשחו כהנים גדולים ומלכים ואפי' כהן גדול בן כ"ג טעון משיחה ואין מושחין מלך בן מלך ואם תאמר מפני מה משחו את שלמה מפני מחלוקת אדוניה ואת יהואש מפני עתליה ואת יהואחז מפני יהויקים אחיו שהיה גדול מאחיו שתי שנים
The baraita adds: And High Priests and kings were anointed with it, and even a High Priest, the son of a High Priest, requires anointing with the oil. But one does not anoint a king, the son of a king. And if you say: If so, for what reason did they anoint King Solomon, who was the son of King David? It was due to the dispute over the throne instigated by his older brother Adonijah, who attempted to usurp the monarchy. And similarly Joash, son of Ahaziah, was anointed king (see II Kings 11:12) due to the threat of Athaliah, his paternal grandmother, who attempted to seize the monarchy for herself (II Kings 11:1–3). And Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, was anointed as king (II Kings 23:30) due to the competition from Jehoiakim, his brother, who was two years older than his brother, i.e., Jehoahaz. Ordinarily the older brother succeeds the father, but Jehoahaz was more worthy of the throne.
ואפילו כהן גדול בן כהן גדול טעון משיחה ואין מושחים מלך בן מלך ואם תאמר מפני מה משחו את שלמה מפני מחלוקתו של אדוניה ואת יואש מפני עתליה ואת יהואחז מפני יהויקים שהיה גדול ממנו שתי שנים ואותו שמן קיים לעתיד לבוא שנאמר שמן משחת קדש יהיה זה לי לדורותיכם זה בגימטריא שנים עשר לוגין הוו
Apropos the anointing oil, the baraita continues: And even a High Priest, son of a High Priest, requires anointing, but one does not anoint a king, son of a king. And if you say: For what reason did they anoint King Solomon (see I Kings, chapter 1), who was the son of a king? It was due to the challenge of Adonijah, who sought to succeed their father David as king. And they anointed Joash due to Athaliah (see II Kings, chapter 11). And they anointed Jehoahaz due to Jehoiakim, who was two years older than he was (see II Kings 23:30). In all these cases, it was necessary to underscore that these men were crowned king. And that oil remains in existence for the future, as it is stated: “This [zeh] shall be a sacred anointing oil unto Me throughout your generations” (Exodus 30:31). The numerical value of zeh is twelve log, indicating that this amount of oil remains intact despite its use.
ת"ר אין מושחין את המלכים אלא על המעיין כדי שתימשך מלכותן שנאמ' (מלכים א א, לג-לד) ויאמר המלך (אל בניהו) וגו' והורדתם אותו על גיחון (וגו') ומשח אותו שם
§ The Gemara cites a baraita which discusses the anointing of kings. The Sages taught: One may anoint kings only next to a spring. This is done as a fortuitous sign, so that their kingdom should continue uninterrupted just as the waters of the spring flow uninterrupted throughout the year. As it is stated with regard to the coronation of Solomon in the days of King David: And the king said to Benaiah: Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel (see I Kings 1:33–34). The Sages derived from here that all kings should be anointed near a spring.
ת"ר אין מושחים את המלכים אלא על המעיין כדי שתמשך מלכותם שנא' (מלכים א א, לג) ויאמר המלך להם קחו עמכם את עבדי אדוניכם [וגו'] והורדתם אותו אל גחון
The Sages taught: One anoints the kings only upon a spring, as an omen, so that their kingdom will continue like a spring, as it is stated with regard to the coronation of Solomon before the death of David: “And the king said unto them: Take with you the servants of your lord, and let Solomon my son ride upon my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. And let Tzadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel and sound the shofar and say: Long live King Solomon” (I Kings 1:33–34).
The Death of Kings
דאי לא תימא הכי הא דתניא שורפין על המלכים ולא מדרכי האמורי היכי שרפינן והכתיב ובחקותיהם לא תלכו אלא כיון דכתיב שריפה באורייתא דכתיב (ירמיהו לד, ה) ובמשרפות אבותיך וגו' לאו מינייהו קא גמרינן והכא נמי כיון דכתיב סייף באורייתא לאו מינייהו קא גמרינן
As, if you do not say so, that a Jewish custom is not forbidden even if the gentiles have the same custom, then that which is taught in a baraita poses a difficulty. The baraita teaches: One burns vessels and clothes over the deaths of kings as an expression of grief, and this is not forbidden for being of the ways of the Amorites. How can we perform this burning? But isn’t it written: “And you shall not follow their statutes”? Rather, since burning items over the death of a king is written in the Torah, as it is written: “And with the burnings of your fathers, the first kings who came before you, so shall they make a burning for you” (Jeremiah 34:5), it is not from the gentiles that we learn it. And here too, since decapitation by the sword is written in the Torah, it is not from them that we learn it.
גופא שורפין על המלכים ואין בו משום דרכי האמורי שנאמר (ירמיהו לד, ה) בשלום תמות ובמשרפות אבותיך המלכים וגו' וכשם ששורפין על המלכים כך שורפין על הנשיאים
Having mentioned this baraita, the Gemara returns to discuss the matter itself. The baraita teaches: One burns items due to the death of kings as an expression of grief, and this is not subject to the prohibition of imitating the ways of the Amorites, since it is a Jewish custom. As it is stated that Jeremiah prophesied to Zedekiah king of Judah: “You shall die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings that were before you, so shall they make a burning for you” (Jeremiah 34:5). And just as one burns items upon the death of the kings, so too one burns items upon the death of the heads of the Sanhedrin.