“They shall send out from the camp every leper…” – you find that a king of flesh and blood has nobility; God, too, has nobility, as it is stated: “Take a census of [se’u et rosh]5Literally, elevate them. the entire congregation of the children of Israel…” (Numbers 1:2). A king of flesh and blood has senior officials; God, too, has senior officials: “The prince of the princes of the Levites, [Elazar son of Aaron the priest]” (Numbers 3:32).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: He [Elazar] was an overseer of officials. A king of flesh and blood distributes sustenance to his legions; God, too, distributes sustenance, as it is stated: “Behold, I am raining bread for you from the heavens” (Exodus 16:4). A king of flesh and blood distributes blankets and garments to his soldiers; the same is true of God, as it is stated: “Your garments did not become worn…” (Deuteronomy 8:4).
A king of flesh and blood issues a death sentence; God, too, issues a death sentence, as it is stated: “The adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10). A king of flesh and blood exacts fines; God, too, exacts fines, as it is stated: “They shall fine him one hundred silver pieces” (Deuteronomy 22:19). A king of flesh and blood inflicts corporal punishment; God, too, inflicts corporal punishment, as it is stated: “Forty he shall flog him; he shall not add” (Deuteronomy 25:3).
A king of flesh and blood has a metal mine to which the banished are exiled; God, too, has a metal mine6This is meant metaphorically; there is a place to which people are banished. to which the banished are exiled, as it is stated: “They shall send out from the camp every leper…”