Sanhedrin 2:3-4

Sanhedrin 2:3

If one of the king’s relatives died, he may leave the doorway of his palace (to mourn in public). Rabbi Yehuda says that if the king wants to follow the funeral procession, he may do so. This is because we see that King David followed Avner’s funeral procession, as per II Samuel 3:31, “King David followed the bier.” The Sages replied that this was permitted only to appease the people (so that they should know that he didn’t order Avner’s death). When they prepare a mourner’s meal for the king, all the people sit on the ground and he sits on a couch.

Sanhedrin 2:4

A king may take his army for an optional war with the approval of the great Sanhedrin of 71 judges. He may break through others’ property to make a road to his own and he is not prevented from doing so. The road he makes for himself has no prescribed size. The army places the spoils of war before him and he chooses his own share first. “He may not take excessive wives for himself” (Deuteronomy 17:17) - he is permitted a maximum of 18 wives. Rabbi Yehuda says that the king may have more wives than this so long as they do not turn his heart away from God; Rabbi Shimon says that even one wife is prohibited if she turns his heart from God. If so, why does the Torah specify that the king may not multiply wives? He may not do so even if they are as righteous as Avigayil was. “He may not take excessive horses for himself” (Deut. 17:16) – only enough for his chariot. “Nor may he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself” (17:17) – only enough to maintain his army. He also writes a Torah scroll for himself; when he goes out to war, he brings it out with him and when he returns, he brings it in with him; when he sits in judgment, he has it with him and when he sits to eat, it faces him. All this is as per Deuteronomy 17:19, “It shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life.”