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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 00:00:38 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Kings Do Not Have Absolute Authority

Aaron Wolf in Volume 30 Number 18 writes that

>>>
In Shmuel though we find that the king is given authority to take the
daughters and money of the people at will. The Gemara also learns out
>>>>>>>

No...this is not true according to anybody. Taking a woman (against
her will) is rape Taking money is theft. No one in Jewish law is allowed
to rape or steal.

(However once a women is married to a king if she
gets divorced she may not remarry to a commoner). Also a king can
give a uniform tax but he may not take property that does not belong
to him (See the great evil of Achav who stole Navoth's property).

I think there is a lot of good material in Aarons posting...but I doubt
the distinction between Shoftim and Shmuel is one of absolute vs not.

Russell Hendel; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/