The Torah tells us to “appoint a king over you whom the Lord your God shall choose” (Devarim 17:15). The verse seems to indicate clearly that the king is chosen by God and not by the people. However, when we read how the process actually unfolds, as described in Sefer Shemuel, we find that the decisive factor in the choice of the king is in fact the will of the people.
We look at the descriptions of Shaul, David (and Avshalom) being crowned as kings, and we examine different opinions about the laws of appointing a king.
We find that the system of ruling in the Torah entails two centers of power, each comprising two authorities. One center is the religious authority, consisting of the Kohanim and the judges. The other center consists of the political leadership, combining the king and the prophet – who are sometimes at odds.
Translated by Kaeren Fish
