You shall surely set over yourself a king whom the Eternal your God will choose; from among your brethren you shall set a king over yourself; you may not place over yourself a foreigner who is not your brother.
English: We appoint a king only by the word of a prophet and by a court of seventy-one.
On the daf / in context: The phrase ‘whom the Eternal your God will choose’ is understood as requiring prophetic confirmation and the Great Sanhedrin.
Type of Learning
Derash on ‘whom Hashem will choose’ (Bavli / halakhic) — the choice is not left to popular vote alone; it requires prophetic and judicial authorization.
What Is Learned
A king may be appointed only with the authorization of a prophet and the Sanhedrin of seventy-one. Popular desire alone is insufficient.