“The Torah takes a skeptical perspective on the institution of the monarchy. The collections of laws that precede the Book of Deuteronomy make no mention of future kings, preferring to speak of the נשיא, “chieftain,” i.e., the leader of a tribe. Thus, in Exodus’ Covenant Collection, the law cautions that one must not “put a curse upon a chieftain among your people” (וְנָשִׂיא בְעַמְּךָ לֹא תָאֹר; Exod 22:27). Similarly, in the Priestly laws of Leviticus, the law of the sin offering does not discuss the sin of a king, but instead says, “in case it is a chieftain who incurs guilt” (אֲשֶׁר נָשִׂיא יֶחֱטָא; Lev 4:22).”

Read the complete essay on TheTorah.com