THE VERSES ON THE THRONE
The Gemara (Kiddushin 76b) uses the verse כולך יפה רעיתי ומום אין בך (Shir HaShirim 4,7) as a basis to teach us that a judge should not have any blemishes.
The Kli Yakar quotes the Medrash that describes the throne of Shlomo HaMelech. This exquisite and unique seat had six steps leading up to the seat. Each one of the steps had a verse from the Torah written upon it.
The first step featured the verse “Do not pervert justice.”
Written on the second step was the verse “Do not show preference in judgment.”
On the third step the verse cited was “Do not accept bribery.”
The fourth step had written upon it “Do not plant an asheira tree near the altar of HaShem.”
The fifth step featured the verse “Do not construct a single-stone altar for the service of HaShem.”
Finally, the sixth and final step had written upon it, “Do not offer to HaShem any ox or sheep that has a blemish.”
Kli Yakar notes that the throne of the king was used in judgment. We can understand the theme of the verses inscribed upon the first three steps. These are admonitions regarding how to judge fairly. What was the reason the upper three steps had upon them verses dealing with details of the construction of the altar?
Kli Yakar answers that our Gemara declares that a judge should not have a blemish. How, though, can we learn a halacha from a verse in Shir HaShirim? Is this a Torah law, and if so, where is there an indication in the Torah itself to teach this?
The answer is that the verses on Shlomo’s throne are all found in consecutive order, at the beginning of Parashas Shoftim.
דברים פרק טז ...
The juxtaposition of the verses teaches that the laws of judging are parallel to the laws of the altar. Therefore, just as a blemished animal is disqualified for the altar, so too is a judge ineligible if he is blemished.
