Differences and Similarities to the Kings

Parsha Halacha | December 31, 2025

Differences and Similarities to the Kings

In his introduction to the book of Shoftim, the Abarbanel lists five ways in which the Shoftim were similar to the kings and five ways in which they were different.

Five Similarities

Here are the five similarities between the Shoftim and the kings.

Both were appointed by the Beit Din (high court) and accepted willingly by the Jewish people.
Both led in military matters and in judging the people.
Both had the right to exercise extra-judicial justice. This can be seen from how Gideon punished the men of Sukkot and Penuel (Judges 8:16-17) and how King David killed the Amalekite who claimed to have killed King Saul (II Samuel 1:15).
It was mandatory to treat both of these kinds of leaders with respect. One who did not was deserving of capital punishment.
Just as one king immediately succeeded the previous king, similarly the Shoftim served as leaders sequentially, without any time separating their periods of leadership.

Five Differences

Here are the five differences between the Shoftim and the kings.

Kings were anointed by prophets unless they were taking over from their fathers’ rule and there was no disagreement about the transfer of power. The Shoftim were not anointed.
The Shoftim would judge the people using the Torah’s laws. The kings’ judgments, on the other hand, were always extra-judicial while the Sanhedrin who served concurrently with each king would rule according to the Torah’s laws.
The king has special mitzvot that apply to him as enumerated in our Torah portion (Deut 17:16-19), that is, he may not have too many wives or horses, may not amass wealth, and must write a Torah scroll which he needs to carry with him wherever he goes. These mitzvot do not apply to the Shoftim.
The king has the right to tax the people and is supposed to receive special treatment in various ways.
The kingship is passed onto the children of the king. This did not apply to the Shoftim (with the exception of Avimelech who took the position by force).

May the prophecy of Isaiah be fulfilled, “And I will restore your judges as they were originally and your advisors as they were in the beginning!”

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, a Chodesh Tov and a Ktiva VaChatima Torah!