Midrash for Sanhedrin 40:17
ולבסוף לא מלך אלא על ישראל שנאמר (קהלת א, יב) אני קהלת הייתי מלך על ישראל וגו' ולבסוף לא מלך אלא על ירושלים שנאמר (קהלת א, א) דברי קהלת בן דוד מלך בירושלים ולבסוף לא מלך אלא על מטתו שנאמר (שיר השירים ג, ז) הנה מטתו שלשלמה וגו'
acted unworthily, at it is written, That we also may be like all the nations and that our king may judge us and go before us.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Sam. VIII, 20. Thus the main purpose of the elders was to ensure law and order, whereas the 'am ha-aretz thought chiefly of warlike expeditions. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> It has been taught: R. Jose<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V.l. 'R. Judah.' ');"><sup>26</sup></span>
Sifrei Devarim
whence it was ruled: A king breaches (the fence of others) to make way for himself (to go to his vineyard or his field), and he may not be held back (from doing so). He may broaden roads for himself, and he is not held back from doing so. The path of the king has no limits. And all of the people take of the spoil and place it before him, and he takes the prime portion. (He chooses first and takes half of all the spoil.)
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