This week’s episode of Torah Pearls (Season 3) is titled The Monarchy Is Not Mosaic, as Jono Vandor, Ross K. Nichols of the Horeb Institute, and Ezra—the AI “textpert”—take a critical look at Shofetim (Deut 16:18–21:9). The portion begins with the appointment of judges and officials—a settled bureaucracy that seems far removed from the wilderness setting of Moses. From there, we explore capital cases and curses, the limits of priestly authority, and the role of the prophet. At the center lies the striking law of the king (17:14–20), widely seen by scholars as a later addition reflecting Josianic-era concerns rather than Mosaic origins. Does this text preserve an echo of Samuel’s warnings, or is it a royal rewrite layered into the Torah? Alongside this, we consider Deuteronomy’s unique treatment of Levites, the test of the true prophet, cities of refuge, and rituals for unresolved guilt. With comparative insights from the Dead Sea Scrolls and The Moses Scroll, we ask how these laws were shaped, transmitted, and transformed over time.

Watch this episode [⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠]