אור החיים — ויהי בישרון מלך בהתאסף ראשי עם

Q — What does 'ויהי בישרון מלך בהתאסף ראשי עם יחד שבטי ישראל' teach about kingship in Israel?

A — Or HaChaim reads it as a charter for 'the establishment of the king in Israel.' The phrase 'בהתאסף ראשי עם' indicates that a king is appointed only by the Beit Din of 71 (the Sanhedrin), as Chazal teach; and 'יחד שבטי ישראל' adds that the public must be content with him — both judicial sanction and popular acceptance are required. He further hints that the monarchy's continued survival, not only its founding, depends on the unity of Israel's leaders: when the heads of the people gather together rather than acting separately, that very unity causes the tribes of Israel to be united as one.