Deuteronomy 17:9

_AND THOU SHALT COME UNTO THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES, AND UNTO THE JUDGE THAT SHALL BE IN THOSE DAYS, AND INQUIRE; AND THEY SHALL SHEW THEE THE SENTENCE OF JUDGMENT:_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

8-13 Courts of judgment were to be set up in every city. Though their judgment had not the Divine authority of an oracle, it was the judgment of wise, prudent, experienced men, and had the advantage of a Divine promise....

The cases in question are such as the inferior judges did not feel able to decide satisfactorily, and which accordingly they remitted to their superiors (compare Exodus 18:23). The Supreme court Deuteronomy 17:9 is referred to in very general terms as sitting at the sanctuary Deuteronomy 17:8. “The judge” would no doubt usually be a layman, and thus the court would contain both an ecclesiastical and a civil element. Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 19:4 organized his judicial system very closely upon the lines here laid down....

EXPOSITION SACRIFICES TO BE OF ANIMALS UNBLEMISHED. IDOLATERS TO BE SOUGHT OUT, CONVICTED, AND PUT TO DEATH. THE HIGHER JUDICIAL COURT AT THE SANCTUARY. ELECTION DUTY OF A KING. DEUTERONOMY 17:1 Not only was the setting up of idols an offence to be punished by the judge, but also all profanation of the service of Jehovah, such as the offering in sacrifice of any animal, bullock or sheep, tha

THOU SHALT COME UNTO THE PRIESTS, THE LEVITES,.... The priests that are of the tribe of Levi, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi; for Aben Ezra says there are priests that are not of the genealogy of Levi; such there were indeed in Jeroboam's time, 1 Kings 12:31. Maimonides f observes, that it is ordered that there should be in the great sanhedrim priests and Levites, as it is said: "and thou shalt come unto the priests, and the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire"; judge is here put for judges, of which the great court consisted, being priests, Levites, and Israelites; Deuteronomy 16:18, though others think that only a single person is meant, such as Othniel, Ehud, Gideon, Samson, c. but then as there was not always such an one in being, I should rather think that t

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 16:21- DEUTERONOMY 17:7. LAWS DEMANDING PURE WORSHIP AND SUITABLE SACRIFICES. This breaks the connexion; its proper place is probably between Deuteronomy 12 and Deuteronomy 13. DEUTERONOMY 17:1. See Leviticus 22:17 *. ox: Heb. means any head of large cattle, bull, cow, calf. sheep: Heb. means any head of small cattle, ram, ewe, lamb, goat, kid. Deuteronomy 17:2 probably preceded ch. 13 with which it has close affinities....

THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES. First occurrence of this expression. Occurs six times in Deut.; elsewhere in Jos 3:31. Jos 8:33. 2 Chronicles 30:27; Nehemiah 11:20; Isaiah 66:21.Jeremiah 33:21.Ezekiel 44:15. The expression refers to the Levitical priests as distinct from the Tribal priests (or Levites)....

Of the Judges of Final Appeal Local cases too hard for the local courts (see Deuteronomy 16:18-20, on which this passage immediately follows) are to be taken before the Priests, the Levites at the Sanctuary, and the Judge of the time (Deuteronomy 17:8 f.), whose decisions must be strictly obeyed (Deuteronomy 17:10 f.); the man who presumptuously refuses to obey shall die (Deuteronomy 17:12 f.). Sg. address. The association of a lay judge with the priests is remarkable. Because of this and because he regards Deu

_VER._ 8, 9. _IF THERE ARISE A MATTER TOO HARD FOR THEE,_ &C.— Moses now returns to speak of the courts of judgment, which he had ordered to be erected in all their cities when they came into the land of Canaan, chap. Deuteronomy 16:18. These words, therefore, are to be considered as directed to the ordinary judges, who were appointed in every city. The particular number of them seems to have been left to discretion, though we are told, that in later times it was fixed to three in lesser towns, and twenty-three in greater: from these judges there seldom lay an appeal, except in such cases as are here specified. See Lowman's Dissert. chap. 5: _Between blood and blood_ is interpreted by many, of questions respecting bloodshed; whether, for instance, it was wilful, or casual only. Others, however, imagine it to signify contentions which arise from the degrees of cons