Shoftim 17:15 · unit 7

TT #90 · Parashas Shoftim · Second Aliyah · Passuk 17:15

The Complete Passuk

שׂ֣וֹם תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ בּ֑וֹ מִקֶּ֣רֶב אַחֶ֗יךָ תָּשִׂ֤ים עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א תוּכַ֗ל לָתֵ֤ת עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ נׇכְרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־אָחִ֖יךָ הֽוּא׃

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.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 157.

TT lemma: לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת עָלֶיךָ אִישׁ נׇכְרִי.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 157

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
לֹא תוּכַל לָתֵת עָלֶיךָ אִישׁ נׇכְרִי – לְרַבּוֹת כׇּל מִשִּׂימוֹת שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.

English: ‘You may not place over yourself a foreigner’ – this includes all appointments of authority in Yisrael.

On the daf / in context: Sifrei reads the prohibition as extending to every office of power, not only the throne.

Type of Learning

Derash expanding the prohibition (Sifrei) — the ban on a foreigner applies to every position of authority.

What Is Learned

No foreigner may be placed in any position of coercive authority over Yisrael. The rule is not limited to the king alone.