Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Sanhedrin/Chapter 2/5

Introduction

Sanhedrin deals primarily with the court and with court cases. The second chapter of Sanhedrin is focused on laws concerning the High Priest and the King.

The fifth and final mishnah of this chapter explains the separation of the King from the people. Because of it's brevity and thematic connection to the fourth mishnah, it is sometimes found in manuscripts as a continuation of the fourth mishnah.

Hebrew Text

אין רוכבין על סוסו, ואין יושבין על כסאו, ואין משתמשין בשרביטו , ואין רואין אותו כשהוא מסתפר ולא כשהוא ערום ולא בבית המרחץ, שנאמר (דברים יז,טז) שום תשים עליך מלך, שתהא אימתו עליך.:

English Translation

No one may ride his horse, and no one may sit in his throne, and no one may use his scepter, and no one may look at him while his hair is is being cut or while he is nude or while he is in the bathhouse, as it is written (Deuteronomy 17:16), "set a king over yourself," whose awe is over you.

Explanation

This is a very brief explanation of the king's interactions with the people, in terms of how they are not allowed to interact with him. The allusion to his hair being cut is likely an allusion to the Book of Judges, specifically to Samson. Because his hair concealed his power, one cannot look at a ruler while he loses his hair. Alternatively, it may be because the king is in a delicate position with someone else holding a sharp edge to his head, and this represents a time when no subject should see the king.