Shoftim 17:18 · unit 2

TT #106 · Parashas Shoftim · Second Aliyah · Passuk 17:18

The Complete Passuk

וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Torah on a scroll, from before the kohanim, the Leviim.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 21b.

TT lemma: מִלִּפְנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 21b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מִלִּפְנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם – מִן הַסֵּפֶר שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם.

English: ‘From before the kohanim, the Leviim’ – from the scroll that is before the kohanim, the Leviim.

On the daf / in context: The source of the text is the authoritative Temple scroll under the custody of the kohanim and Leviim.

Type of Learning

Derash on the source of the text (Bavli) — the king’s scroll must be copied from the official Temple Torah.

What Is Learned

The king’s Sefer Torah must be copied from the scroll that is kept before the kohanim and Leviim, ensuring textual accuracy.