Define monarchy.
Was Israel a monarchy? David was not the son of the previous king. Shlomo was not the oldest living son of David. Does a monarchy include a system where the king appoints an heir? How about system where the President or Imperator picks an heir subject to confirmation? What about an election by the royal family? is it a monarchy when a person is elected for life and acts like a king (is the leader of the Catholic Church a monarchy or a republic? – they crown someone elected for life)? Consider modern Saudi Arabia? Early modern Poland with its elected king. What about the Holy Roman Empire (also “elected”)? Consider the Roman Empire?