Shoftim 17:20 · unit 3

TT #116 · 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: לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 22a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים עַל מַמְלַכְתּוֹ הוּא וּבָנָיו – מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם עָשָׂה כֵּן, זוֹכֶה שֶׁתִּהְיֶה מַלְכוּתוֹ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת.

English: ‘In order that he may prolong days over his kingdom, he and his sons’ – this teaches that if he does so, he merits that his kingship endure.

On the daf / in context: The reward for humility and fidelity to Torah is dynastic continuity.

Type of Learning

Derash on the reward (Bavli / Sifrei) — observance of these limits brings length of days to the king and his descendants.

What Is Learned

When the king remains humble and faithful to the Torah, he and his sons are granted prolonged rule in the midst of Yisrael.