Irony -even tragic irony- is a major feature of the writing of the Hebrew Bible. We will examine one example -or rather, a node of cross-references- concerning the king of Israel as presented by Moses on behalf of God (1) in the Deuteronomic law code. We are in the parsha Shofetim (Deut 16:18-21:9), which describes in particular the future institutions of Israel (priests, judges, prophets), at the time when the Hebrews are preparing to enter the land of Canaan (this settlem