What are the implications of the phrase "Vehayah ke'Shivto ... "?
Rashi: It implies that, if the king carries out the above instructions, he will be worthy to sit a long time on the throne'. 1
Targum Yonasan: It implies that, if he observes the Mitzvos of the Torah, he will sit on the throne in safety.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) word "Vekasav lo es Mishneh ha'Torah"?
Sanhedrin, 21b: To teach the king that he must write his own Seifer Torah, and not 'pride himself' with that of his fathers. 1
See Torah Temmiah, note 91.
What are the connotations of "es Mishneh ha'Torah ha'Zos"?
Rashi #2: It means that he must write two (from the word Sh'nei) Sifrei Torah 1 . One he keeps in his treasury and the other accompanies him wherever he goes. 2
Rashi #2 (citing Targum Onkelos) "Mishneh" means 'Pas'shegen', which is an expression of Shinun (study) and Dibur. 3
Da'as Zekenim and Rosh (both in Pasuk 20): It means the Aseres ha'Dibros, which is called a Seifer Torah because it contains six hundred and thirteen letters - corresponding to the Taryag Mitzvos of the Torah.
Targum Yonasan: It is actually the elders who are obligated to write a copy of the Seifer Torah on behalf the king. 4
Sanhedrin, 22a and Sifri #1: It hints that Ezra was destined to change the language of the Torah 5 from the Ivri script and the language of Lashon ha'Kodesh to the Ashuri script and the Aramaic language. 6
Sifri #2: It means Seifer Devarim, which is what he read out every eighth year at Hakhel. 7
Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin, 2:6: From the Seifer Torah that was kept in the Azarah.
See Torah Temmiah, note 90. who elaborates.
Refer also to 17:18:151:1 & 2.
"Mishnah" from the Lashon 'Shinuy'.
See Torah Temimah, note 93, DH 'u'Mah she'Kasav'.
And Yisrael uptimately settled for 'K'sav Ashuris and Lashon ha'Kodesh. See Torah Temimah, note 9, who elaborates.
See Torah Temimah, note 93, DH 'Nir'eh'..
What does the Torah mean when it writes that the Seifer Torah of the king should be "mi'Lifnei ha'Kohanim ha'Levi'im"?
Oznayim la'Torah: It means that it should be copied directly from the Seifer Torah in the Kodesh Kodshim 1 - which was under the jurisdiction of the Kohanim and the Levi'im and which was not therefore subject to forgery. 2
Or from the Seifer Torah in the Azarah - Oznayim la'Torah citing the Rambam.
Since people, like the Tzedokim, the Baytusim and the Miynim would otherwise try to make changes in the king's Seifer Torah to suit their lifestyle, in order to change the direction of the whole of Yisrael away from the Torah as it was given at Sinai.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes (according to Targum Onkelos) that "Mishneh" is an expression of Shinun and Dibur. What does this mean?
Rashi (in Ezra 4:11) and Ibn Ezra (in Ezra 4:11): It is an expression of 'meaning' or 'explanation'. 1
Ha'Kesav ve'ha'Kabalah citing the Aruch: It is a (Ibn Ezra ? another) text.
Hakesav ve'ha'Kabalah (citing RN"V): Even though it is forbidden to write the oral Torah, a king is permitted to do so. After the second Churban Beis-Hamikdash, the Chachamim removed the prohibition.
