83

The king must have a separate Sefer Torah for himself

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Torah – תּוֹרָה

A Jewish king must write a personal Sefer Torah in addition to the general one.

This mitzvah commands that when a Jewish king ascends the throne, he must write a personal Sefer Torah, in addition to the one every Jew is obligated to write. This Torah must remain with him at all times, serving as a constant reminder of his duty to rule with humility, justice, and devotion to Hashem’s commandments. The king is thereby bound to Torah guidance in both private and public life.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 3:1): The king must write two Torah scrolls — one to be placed in his treasury and another to accompany him wherever he goes.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 503): The root is to ensure that the king governs in alignment with Torah, avoiding arrogance and remaining faithful to Hashem.
  • Talmud (Sanhedrin 21b): States that the king’s Torah must never leave his side, even when he goes to war or sits in judgment.
(Source: Chabad.org)
וְהָיָ֣ה כְשִׁבְתּ֔וֹ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ וְכָ֨תַב ל֜וֹ אֶת־מִשְׁנֵ֨ה הַתּוֹרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ עַל־סֵ֔פֶר מִלִּפְנֵ֖י הַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ - פָּרָשַׁת שׁוֹפְטִים
Deuteronomy 17:18 - "And it will be, when he sits upon his royal throne, that he shall write for himself two copies of this Torah on a scroll from [that Torah which is] before the Levitic kohanim."

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