Deuteronomy 16:19

_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....

18-22 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....

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 But now that Moses was to be withdrawn, and the people would soon be scattered up and down the land of Canaan, regular and permanent provision must be made for civil and social order and good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,...

THOU SHALL NOT WREST JUDGMENT,.... Or pervert it, pass a wrong sentence, or act contrary to justice; this is said to the judges as a direction to them, and so what follows: THOU SHALT NOT RESPECT PERSONS; so as to give the cause on account of outward circumstances and relations; as in favour of a rich man against a poor man merely for that reason, or of a near relation or intimate friend and acquaintance against a stranger, but justice should be administered without favour or affection to any; as Jarchi puts it, he was to make no difference in his address and behaviour to contending parties before him; he was not to be tender and soft to one and hard to the other, or let one stand and another sit: NEITHER TAKE A GIFT: as a bribe to give the cause wrong: at Thebes, in Egypt, as Diodorus Siculus y relates, in a court on a wall, were images of judges to the number of thirty; in the midst...

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 *,...

THOU SHALT NOT.. special reading, known as _Sevir,_ has "neither shalt thou". See App-34. GIFT. bribe....

II. Second Division of the Laws: the Officers of the Theocracy Deuteronomy 16:18-20 … Deuteronomy 17:8-18 Five Laws on Judges and Justice, Appeal to the Sanctuary, the King, the Priests, the Prophets; interrupted by an isolated group of laws on the Worship, Deuteronomy 16:21 to Deuteronomy 17:7. Deuteronomy 16:18-20. Of Judges and Justice Judges with officers are to be appointed in every locality but according to tribes. Justice is to be pursued with strict impartiality. Sg.

4. GENERAL RULES FOR OBSERVANCE (Deuteronomy 16:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:21-22; Deuteronomy 17:1) 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before Jehovah empty: 17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee. 21 Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth. Thou shalt not sacrifi