Deuteronomy 16:18

_JUDGES AND OFFICERS SHALT THOU MAKE THEE IN ALL THY GATES, WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE, THROUGHOUT_ _ THY TRIBES: AND THEY SHALL JUDGE THE PEOPLE WITH JUST JUDGMENT._ Judges and officers. These last meant heralds or bailiffs, employed in executing the sentence of their superiors. IN ALL THY GATES. The gate was the place of public resort among the Israelites and other Eastern people, where business was transacted and causes decided. The Ottoman Porte derived its name from the administration of justice at its gates. But the word "gates" is evidently to be taken here in a larger sense, as equivalent to 'cities;' and, accordingly, courts of various grades for the administration of justice were established in every town. There were gradations of these tribunals-from ordinary courts to those of ultimate appeal-presided over by officers of corresponding rank and authority....

18._Judeges and officers shalt thou make_. I have placed this passage among the Supplements of the Fifth Commandment, for, if it pleases God that judges should be appointed for ruling the people, it follows that their laws and edicts should be obeyed; and thus the parental authority extends also to them. But, in order that the people may more readily submit themselves to judges, God reminds them that the human race could not otherwise be preserved. Public utility, therefore, renders the authority of magistrates pleasant and agreeable, though it would else be hateful. But, although it be not conceded to all to elect their judges, because God honored His chosen people with this prerogative, still he here recommends in general a regular government, since He signifies that human society cannot hold together unless the lawful rulers have authority to execute justice. Whether, then, magistrate...

18-22 Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All personal regards must be laid aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of the heathen. Nothing belies God more, or tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in gospel days, and under a better dispensation, established upon better promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, under one form or another, in the human heart....

Verse Deuteronomy 16:18. _JUDGES AND OFFICERS SHALT THOU MAKE_] JUDGES, שפטים _shophetim_, among the Hebrews, were probably the same as our _magistrates_ or _justices of the peace_. OFFICERS, שטרים _shoterim_, seem to have been the same as our _inquest sergeants_, _beadles_, c., whose office it was to go into the houses, shops, c., and examine _weights, measures_, and the civil conduct of the people. When they found any thing amiss, they brought the person offending before the _magistrate_, and he was punished by the _officer_ on the spot. They seem also to have acted as heralds in the army, Deuteronomy 20:5. See also _Rab. Maimon_ in _Sanhedrin_. In China, for all minor offences, the person when found guilty is punished on the...

These verses are closely connected in subject with the following chapter, and introduce certain directions for the administration of justice and the carrying on of the civil government of the people in Canaan. During the lifetime of Moses, he himself, especially inspired and guided by God, was sufficient, with the aid of the subordinate judges (compare Exodus 18:13 ff), for the duties in question. But now that Moses was to be withdrawn, and the people would soon be scattered up and down the land of Canaan, regular and permanent provision must be made for civil and social order and good government. Deuteronomy 16:21 A GROVE ... - Render, Thou shalt not plant for thee any tree as an idol: literally as an Asherah,” “i. e.” an ima

EXPOSITION CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL, THE FEAST OF PENTECOST AND OF TABERNACLES. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND PREVENTION OF IDOLATRY. DEUTERONOMY 16:1 (Comp. Exodus 23:14-2; Exodus 34:18,...

JUDGES AND OFFICERS SHALL THOU MAKE THEE,.... Judges were fixed in the sanhedrim, or court of judicature, and those that have lawsuits come before them; officers are masters of the staff and whip, and they stand before the judges, and go into markets, streets, and shops, to order the weights and measures, and to smite all that do wrong; and all they do is by order of the judges; so Maimonides s: the qualifications of judges to be chosen and constituted by the people are thus described by him. In the sanhedrim, greater or lesser, they place only men wise and understanding, expert in the wisdom of the law, and masters of great knowledge, and that know some of the other sciences, as medicine, arithmetic, astronomy, and astrology, the ways of soothsayers, diviners, and wizards, and the vanities of idolatry, that they may know how to judge them; and they set in the sanhedrim only priests, Lev...

13. JUSTICE AND THE CHOICE OF A KING Chapter S 16:18-17:20 _ 1. Appointment of judges and their instruction (Deuteronomy 16:18; Deuteronomy 17:1)_ 2. The higher court at the place He chooses (Deuteronomy 17:8) 3. The choice and right of the king (Deuteronomy 17:14) This chapter leads us upon new ground. The obligations of the religious life of Israel were stated in the first part of chapter 16 and now the government of the people in the land is commanded. “Just as in its religious worship the Israelitish nation was to show itself to be the holy nation of Jehovah,

DEUTERONOMY 16. THE DEUTERONOMIC LAWS OF THE THREE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE FEASTS. These are adaptations of the older laws in Exodus 23:18 *, Exodus 34:18; Exodus 34:22 f. (general regulations); Deuteronomy 12:21 (Passover); Deuteronomy 13:3 (Unleavened Bread), all J or E (see also Leviticus 23* (H) and Numbers 28 f., Numbers 9:1; Exodus 12:1 *,...

_Judges … shalt thou make thee_ Heb. _give_or _appoint for thyself_. _and officers scribes_or _marshals_. See on Deuteronomy 1:15. _I_ _n a__LL_ _thy gates_ The law is another consequence of the centralisation of the cultus. In ancient Israel ordinary cases were decided by the meeting of the community at the town's gate, and the harder cases referred to the local sanctuary for decision by its priest as God's representative; cp. _the Elohim_in E, Exodus 21:6; Exodus 22:8 ff., 1 Samuel 2:25. On the abolition of the local sanctuaries the former, the popular, court continued,