דברים, פרק י״ז, פסוק י״ז

To prevent moral and national corruption, strict boundaries are placed on a monarch's personal life and wealth. The restrictions against amassing wives and money apply specifically to the king rather than ordinary citizens [תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו]. Kings naturally tend to take many wives to project power and status, a tendency that requires firm restraint [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The consensus among commentators is that a king is permitted a maximum of eighteen wives. This specific quota is derived from King David, who had six wives; God told him that if this were insufficient, He would add "like these and like these," implying two additional groups of six [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, הכתב והקבלה, בכור שור, רלב״ג]. Exceeding this exact limit constitutes a distinct violation for every additional wife taken [תורה תמימה].

The rationale behind limiting the king's marriages is to prevent his heart from turning astray, which commentators interpret as surrendering to lust [אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר], losing rational judgment [שד״ל], or falling into error [נתינה לגר]. This danger operates on two levels. First, there is the direct threat of negative influence, where wives might seduce the king away from the fear of God, echoing the way Eve influenced Adam [רבנו בחיי, שפתי כהן]. For this reason, some maintain that marrying even a single wicked wife is entirely forbidden [בכור שור, אדרת אליהו, מלבי״ם]. Second, there is the danger of severe distraction. Even if every wife is thoroughly righteous, the constant preoccupation with a large household diverts the king's attention from the solemn responsibilities of governing and alienates him from his royal duties [רש״ר הירש, קונטרס חיבה יתירה, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Similarly, boundaries are set on the accumulation of silver and gold. Unlike horses and wives, a king fundamentally requires substantial financial resources to manage an independent nation. Therefore, the restriction is not absolute; he may gather necessary funds, but he is forbidden from succumbing to greed and hoarding excessive wealth [רש״ר הירש, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This prohibition specifically targets the amassing of riches for the king's private treasury. Conversely, it is both permitted and obligatory for the monarch to collect funds for public necessities, such as constructing the Temple, and above all, to cover military expenses, soldier wages, cavalry, and equipment [רש״י, מזרחי, רבנו בחיי, שפתי חכמים, רלב״ג, חזקוני, אדרת אליהו, מלבי״ם].

Hoarding excessive personal wealth presents severe threats to the kingdom. Economically and socially, it inevitably leads to an oppressive tax burden on the populace [אבן עזרא, רבנו בחיי, שפתי כהן], stifles the citizens' productive capacity, and risks destroying the national economy [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, because the king serves as the ultimate role model, the public might emulate his pursuit of wealth, leading to widespread societal corruption [שד״ל]. On a moral level, excessive money breeds character-weakening indulgence [ביאור יש״ר], arrogance, and the illegal confiscation of property. Ultimately, it causes the king to place his trust in his riches rather than in God [רבנו בחיי, רלב״ג].

King Solomon serves as the definitive historical example of these inherent dangers. The Torah deliberately conceals the underlying reasons for most commandments so that individuals will not presume themselves wise enough to circumvent them. Relying on his unparalleled wisdom, Solomon believed he could amass wives and wealth without turning astray, yet he ultimately failed in all areas. He multiplied horses, hoarded silver and gold—which resulted in crushing taxes and a subsequent popular rebellion against his son Rehoboam—and took numerous wives who swayed his heart in his old age [רבנו בחיי, תורה תמימה, אבן עזרא, שפתי כהן]. A unique perspective offers a different framing of Solomon's downfall, suggesting his actions were not driven by simple lust. Rather, he possessed a profound desire to investigate and elevate all the forces of impurity in the world in order to perfect them. These dangerous forces are metaphorically represented by his thousand foreign wives. Solomon was drawn too deeply into this spiritual investigation until he stumbled, much like Noah who became intoxicated from the wine he planted [שפתי כהן].