The ancient rabbis wrestled with these questions constantly, especially when it came to interpreting the Torah’s instructions for a king. And honestly, their debates still resonate today.
Let's dive into a fascinating discussion from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Here, they’re grappling with some very specific directives laid out for a future king of Israel, particularly concerning wives and wealth. It’s all about keeping a leader’s heart in the right place, focused on the people, not on personal indulgence.
The passage we're looking at focuses on Deuteronomy 17:17, which states the king "shall not multiply wives to himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself." Sounds straightforward, right? Except, as always, the rabbis find nuance and complexity.
Rabbi Yehudah offers a fascinating take on the "wives" part. He says a king can actually have multiple wives, so long as they don't cause his heart to stray from God. The key, according to Rabbi Yehudah, lies in the phrase "that his heart not turn astray.” Basically, it's not the number of wives, but the effect they have on the king’s spiritual compass. It’s a bit like saying, "You can have your cake and eat it too… as long as it doesn't make you sick!"
But then Rabbi Shimon comes along and throws a wrench into the whole thing. He argues that a king shouldn't marry even one woman if she’s likely to lead his heart astray. Ouch. So, why the verse about "not multiplying wives"? Rabbi Shimon says it applies even to someone as virtuous as Avigail. Yes, that Avigail, the wise and beautiful woman who later became King David’s wife. Even a woman of such high caliber could potentially distract a king from his duties! It’s a pretty radical stance, suggesting that even the best relationship can be a slippery slope for someone in a position of power.
Now, let’s talk about the bling. The Torah also cautions against a king accumulating excessive silver and gold. But what does "excessive" even mean? Could a king not amass wealth even to, say, provision his army? The text anticipates this objection. It clarifies "he shall not multiply for himself" – meaning the king can accumulate wealth for the good of the kingdom, like equipping soldiers, but not for personal aggrandizement.
It's a brilliant distinction, isn't it? The emphasis is on intention. Is the accumulation serving a higher purpose, or is it just feeding ego and greed?
What I find so compelling about this passage from Sifrei Devarim is how relevant it remains. We might not have kings in the traditional sense, but we certainly have leaders, CEOs, influencers – people with power and resources. And the question of how much is too much, and what motivates the accumulation, is still incredibly relevant. Are we building something for the common good, or are we just building our own empires?