Deuteronomy 17:8,Deuteronomy 17:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:8-13

High court of appeal. We can imagine a condition of human society in which wrong-doing would at once declare itself by some visible pain or sign. We can imagine a condition of society in which God would himself step forth and punish every offence against truth or virtue. But then, men would lose the benefits of moral training which the present system ensures. This necessity for men to take part in the administration of justice brings large advantage. I. HUMAN INTERESTS OFTEN ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 17:8-13

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 18:23-27).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 19:4-11 organized his judicial system very closely... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 17:8

Deuteronomy 17:8. If there arise a matter too hard for thee These words are to be considered as addressed to the ordinary judges, or inferior magistrates, who were appointed in every city. Between blood and blood That is, in capital causes, whether a man hath committed wilful or casual murder. Between plea and plea In civil causes, about words or estates, when the question is, whose cause or plea is the better? Between stroke and stroke In criminal causes; in the case of wounds or... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 17:1-20

Justice and government (16:18-17:20)A collection of miscellaneous laws deals with a variety of civil and religious matters. The courts had to administer justice impartially (18-20); the worship of Yahweh was not to involve any symbols or sacred objects taken from other religions (21-22); people were not to offer sick or lame animals in sacrifice (17:1); the testimony of at least two witnesses had to be in agreement before an accused person could be punished (2-7); and when local judges found a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Deuteronomy 17:8

between. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read "or between". stroke = punishment. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:8

"If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose; and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment. And thou shalt do according to the tenor of the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 17:8-9

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,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 17:8

8-13. If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment—In all civil or criminal cases, where there was any doubt or difficulty in giving a decision, the local magistrates were to submit them by reference to the tribunal of the Sanhedrim—the supreme council, which was composed partly of civil and partly of ecclesiastical persons. "The priests and Levites," should rather be "the priests—the Levites"; that is, the Levitical priests, including the high priest, who were members of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Deuteronomy 17:8-13

Deuteronomy 17:2 through 7 explain a specific example of how the judges were to deal with a particular type of case. In these verses we see the legal procedure they were to follow in general.When the priests would set up the tabernacle in the land, the nation was to establish a supreme court to provide judgment in cases too difficult for the local judges. The location of this legal center may have been at the tabernacle [Note: Craigie, The Book . . ., p. 252] , or it may have been at some other... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 17:1-20

The Punishment of Idolatry. Controversies to be Settled by Priests and Judges. Election and Duties of a King1. Cp. Leviticus 22:17-25. 2. Wickedness] idolatry, as in Deuteronomy 4:25. 5. Unto thy gates] see on Genesis 19:1.7. The hands of the witnesses] This regulation, by throwing the responsibility of the execution upon the witnesses, would act as a safeguard against false evidence: see on Leviticus 24:14.8-13. Difficult cases are to be referred to a supreme court of judicature, consisting of... read more