Shoftim 17:20 · unit 1

TT #114 · Parashas Shoftim · Second Aliyah · Passuk 17:20

The Complete Passuk

לְבִלְתִּ֤י רוּם־לְבָבוֹ֙ מֵֽאֶחָ֔יו וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י ס֥וּר מִן־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לְמַ֩עַן֩ יַאֲרִ֨יךְ יָמִ֧ים עַל־מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ ה֥וּא וּבָנָ֖יו בְּקֶ֥רֶב יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

So that his heart not be lifted above his brethren, and so that he not turn aside from the commandment to the right or to the left, in order that he may prolong days over his kingdom, he and his sons, in the midst of Yisrael.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 22a.

TT lemma: לְבִלְתִּי רוּם לְבָבוֹ מֵאֶחָיו.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 22a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
לְבִלְתִּי רוּם לְבָבוֹ מֵאֶחָיו – שֶׁלֹּא יִתְגָּאֶה עֲלֵיהֶם.

English: ‘So that his heart not be lifted above his brethren’ – that he not become arrogant over them.

On the daf / in context: The Torah explicitly aims to prevent royal arrogance.

Type of Learning

Derash on humility (Bavli / Sifrei) — the purpose of constant Torah study is to keep the king humble among his people.

What Is Learned

The king must remain humble and not elevate his heart above his brethren. Lifelong Torah study is the means to that humility.