From: Shoshanna Walker <rosewalk AT concentric.net>
To: Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>
Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] The 'need' for a king?
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:23:10 -0400
Of course G-d gives prophecies about the consequences of human sin.
Look at Parshat Ki Tavo.
If you are implying here that G-d gives a prophecy that Israel will
ask for a king because they want to be like other nations, and that
this is a sin, and that the commandment to appoint a king, therefore,
is a consequence (ie; punishment) of their sinning by asking to be
like other nations, that is not the understanding of our
thousands-of-years-old tradition.
Appointing a king, having a king, is certainly no punishment. The
punishment would be, rather, if we were so undeserving, NOT to have a
proper leader (like today, maybe?).
Shoshanna
But does it being a prophecy imply that it is God's will? Does God
never gives prophecies about human sins and their consequences?