Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:18-22

Here is, I. Care taken for the due administration of justice among them, that controversies might be determined, matters in variance adjusted, the injured redressed, and the injurious punished. While they were encamped in the wilderness, they had judges and officers according to their numbers, rulers of thousands and hundreds, Exod. 18:25. When they came to Canaan, they must have them according to their towns and cities, in all their gates; for the courts of judgment sat in the gates. Now, 1.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:18

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 F19 Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 1. sect. 1. : the qualifications of judges to be chosen and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:19

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:20

That which is altogether just shalt thou follow ,.... Or "justice", "justice" F1 צדק צדק , strict justice, and nothing else: that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee ; that is, continue in the possession of it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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, etc., whose office it was to go into the houses, shops, etc., 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 16:18

Verse 18 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 16:20

Verse 20 20.That which is altogether just (131) By an emphatic repetition God inculcates that judges should study equity with inflexible constancy; nor is this done without cause, for nothing is more likely to happen than that men’s minds should be clouded by favor or hatred. Besides there are so many quibbles whereby justice is perverted, that, unless judges are very cautious in watching against deception, they will often find themselves ensnared. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:18

Judges and officers. The "officers" ( shoterim , writers) associated with the judges both in the earlier arrangements and in that which was to succeed were secretaries and clerks of court, and acted also as assessors and advisers of the judges. No instruction is given as to the number of judges and officers, or as to the mode of appointing them; nor was this necessary. The former would be determined by the size and population of the place where they were appointed, and the latter would,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Moses had at an earlier period appointed judges to settle disputes among the people, and had given instructions to them for the discharge of their duty ( Exodus 18:1-27 ; Deuteronomy 1:12-18 ). Whilst the people were in the wilderness, united as one body and under the leadership of Moses, this arrangement was sufficient; but a more extended arrangement would be required when they came to be settled in Canaan and dispersed in towns and villages over the whole land. In prospect of this,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:18-20

(See Homily, De 10:17—11:1, "God no respecter of persons.") read more

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