Bnei Yisrael First to Crown Hashem as King

מ"ש לעיל שתמליכוני עליכם שעיקר המלכות על בני ישראל.

As mentioned above, "that you crown Me over you" — for the essence of the kingship is over Bnei Yisrael.

Continuing his earlier point, the Sefas Emes notes that Hashem's request "tamlichuni aleichem" — accept My kingship — shows that the core of Hashem's malchus rests specifically upon Bnei Yisrael.

מצינו בדוד המע"ה כאשר מרדו בו בימי אבשלום אח"כ השלימו עמו שלח לזקני יהודה למה תהיו אחרונים להשיב את המלך אח"כ אמרו שאר השבטים עשר ידות לי במלך כו' ויקש דבר איש יהודה לפי שהראו להם כתב מהמלך ע"ש סוף שמואל.

We find regarding David HaMelech, peace be upon him, that when they rebelled against him in the days of Avshalom and afterward made peace with him, he sent to the elders of Yehudah: "Why should you be the last to bring back the king?" Afterward the other tribes said, "I have ten portions in the king," etc., and "the word of the men of Yehudah was firmer" — because they were shown a writ from the king — see there at the end of Shmuel.

The Sefas Emes recounts the episode after Avshalom's revolt (Shmuel II 19): David urged the elders of Yehudah not to lag in restoring him to the throne. Though the other tribes claimed a greater stake ("ten portions in the king"), Yehudah's claim prevailed and was "harder"/firmer, because David showed them his special connection — illustrating that some have a primary, closest bond to the king.

ככל הדבר הזה יהי' לעתיד כשיבואו כל האומות והשרים ויקבלו עול מלכותו ויודו לשמו.

Exactly like this matter it will be in the future, when all the nations and the heavenly princes will come and accept the yoke of His kingship and give praise to His Name.

The same pattern will unfold in the future: ultimately all the umos and their celestial sarim will accept Hashem's malchus and acknowledge Him.

ואעפ"י שהם ע' אומות יהי' יד בנ"י בראשונה.

And even though they are seventy nations, the hand of Bnei Yisrael will be first.

Although there are seventy nations, it is Bnei Yisrael who will have precedence — "first" in proclaiming and accepting Hashem's kingship.

כי הם קבלו מלכותו בראשונה.

For they accepted His kingship first.

Bnei Yisrael earn this priority because they were the first to take Hashem's malchus upon themselves.

כדאיתא הם המליכוני על הים ופסוק ראשון של מלכות הוציאו בנ"י מכח אל הפועל ה' ימלוך לעולם ועד.

As it is brought: "they crowned Me at the sea," and the first pasuk of kingship Bnei Yisrael brought from potential into actuality — "Hashem shall reign forever and ever" (Shemos 15:18).

At the Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael declared Hashem as King. They were the ones to actualize the first verse of malchus, "Hashem yimloch l'olam va'ed," bringing His kingship from the potential into the revealed.

נמשכו אחר דרך אברהם אבינו.

They followed in the way of Avraham Avinu.

In doing so they continued the path of Avraham, who first proclaimed Hashem's kingship in the world.

לכן אברהם קנין אחד וישראל קנין אחד.

Therefore Avraham is "one acquisition" and Yisrael is "one acquisition."

The Sefas Emes alludes to the five "kinyanim" (acquisitions) Hashem made in His world (Avos 6): Avraham is counted as one, and Klal Yisrael as one — both because they took on and spread His malchus.

והכתוב מעיד עליהם ותרועת מלך בו.

And the verse testifies about them: "and the trumpet-blast (teruah) of the King is among them" (Bamidbar 23:21).

Scripture itself attests that the royal "teruah" — the proclamation of Hashem as King — dwells specifically among Bnei Yisrael.

ולכן בכל ר"ה אומר הקב"ה אמרו לפני מלכיות שתמליכוני עליכם דייקא.

Therefore, every Rosh Hashanah the Holy One says: "Recite before Me Malchiyos" — specifically "that you crown Me over you."

Hence Hashem's annual request that we say Malchiyos is worded precisely "tamlichuni aleichem" — crown Me over you — because it is Bnei Yisrael who bear His kingship first and most directly.

ולא תהיו אחרונים להשיב את המלך:

"And do not be the last to bring back the King."

Echoing David's plea to Yehudah, the Sefas Emes hears in Hashem's call a charge to Bnei Yisrael not to lag, but to be first in restoring and accepting the kingship of the King on Rosh Hashanah.

Summary: Just as David urged the tribe of Yehudah not to be last in restoring him to the throne, so the essence of Hashem's kingship rests primarily upon Bnei Yisrael, who were the first to accept His malchus — at the Yam Suf and in the path of Avraham. Although in the future all seventy nations will accept Hashem's reign, Bnei Yisrael will be first; this is why Hashem asks specifically that we crown Him "over you" each Rosh Hashanah, charging us not to be last in restoring the King.