<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'>R"MB:<br>>In the case of Melekh.... well, history changed our relationship to<br>>monarchy to an extent that we really can't get the emotional impact of<br>>"Melekh" intended by the authors of tefillah.<br><br>This is an issue that I've often wondered about. I'm interested in<br>metaphors, and how they work psychologically/linguistically. And,<br>the metaphor of HaShem as a Melekh has particularly fascinated<br>me. <br><br>As a metaphor it seems to work in an obvious way if you think of <br>a king like Henry the Eighth or someone: Absolute and widespread<br>power. But, was that really what a melekh was like in the days of <br>matan Torah?<br><br>I guess on the one hand you have Paroh. But, on the other hand you <br>have the 9 melachim involved in the war in Lech Lecha... How much<br>territory could each one have controlled if there were 9 of them in the<br>area?<br><br>How are we supposed to think about HQBH based on this metaphor?<br><br>steve<br></div></body></html>