discussion in the introduction to this volume.) For a fuller discussion of this problem, see Leo Strauss, What is Political Philosophy (Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press, 1959). Strauss applies his perspective in An Interpretation of Genesis (Jerusalem and Philadelphia: Center for Jewish Community Studies, 1975). 4. See George Mendenhall, "Covenant Forms in Israelite Tradition," Biblical Archeologist , XVII (1959):50-76. For an interesting gloss on Mendenhall, see Moshe Weinfeld, "Berit-Covenant vs. Obligation" in Biblical, Vol. 56, Fasc. 1 (1975):120-128. 5. The question as to whether or not the choice of regimes is open has been much debated in Jewish tradition. That is to say, is monarchy mandated by the Torah or a matter of choice? For our purposes here we need not determine which view is correct (although this writer believes that the choice is given). The very fact that the question is a perennial one with such distinguished figures as Don Isaac Abravanel opting for the latter view is sufficiently significant to demonstrate the point made here. For a summary of the sources, see Chaim Herschensohn. Eleh Divrei HaBrit (Hoboken, N.J., 1918-1921), 3 vols., and Malchi Bakodesh (Hoboken, N.J., 1923-1928), 6 vols. 7. All biblical usages of the term brit have been assembled and classified in HaMunach "Brit" BaTanach [The Term "Covenant" in the Bible], a guide published by the Workshop in the Covenant Idea and the Jewish Political Tradition co-sponsored by the Center for Jewish Community Studies, and the Department of Political Studies of Bar-Ilan University. 9. Moshe Weinfeld, "Covenant"