Sanhedrin 20 – Privileges of a King

The triumph of self-control of Joseph was modest compared to that of Boaz, for “In the middle of the night Boaz was startled, he turned (vayalfet), and there was Ruth lying at this feet." The word 'turned (vayalfet)" tells that his flesh became as hard as the head of a turnip (lefet). Palti ben Layish was even more remarkable, for he never touched Michal, whom Shaul had given him as a wife. Why, then, did he cry when returning her to David? Because of the loss of the opportunity to exercise willpower.

The king does not join the funeral procession when his close relative dies. When they feed him the mourner's meal, all the people recline on the floor, and the king sits on a chair of distinction. He may lead his army to fight a discretionary war with the consent of the Sanhedrin. He may break the fences to make a path for himself.

Art: Sleeping Woman by Felix Edouard Vallotton