Court

How Nave’s arranged it

• ECCLESIASTICAL1 Chronicles 26:29–322 Chronicles 19:8–11Matthew 18:15–18John 20:23
• See Church, Discipline in
• CIVIL
• Held at the tabernacleNumbers 27:2
• The gates of citiesDeuteronomy 21:19Deuteronomy 22:15Deuteronomy 25:7Joshua 20:4Ruth 4:1Zechariah 8:16
• Under a palm treeJudges 4:5
• COMPOSITION OF, AND MODE OF PROCEDUREExodus 18:25Exodus 18:26Deuteronomy 1:15–17Deuteronomy 17:9Ruth 4:2–51 Chronicles 26:29–322 Chronicles 19:8–11Matthew 26:54–71Mark 14:53Mark 14:55–65Mark 15:1Luke 22:50–71John 18:13–28Acts 5:17–21Acts 5:25–28Acts 5:34Acts 5:38–41
• See Judge
• See Justice
• See Priest, Judicial Functions of
• CIRCUIT1 Samuel 7:15–17
• SUPERIOR, AND INFERIORExodus 18:21–26Deuteronomy 1:15–17Deuteronomy 17:8–132 Chronicles 19:5–10

The passages, in Bible order (62)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 18:21–26

   Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 18:21–262 voices

   “Hence Moses, who speaks with God, is judged by the reproof of Jethro, who was of alien race, because with ill-advised labour he devotes himself to the people's earthly affairs: and counsel too is presently given him, that he should appoint others in his stead for settling earthly strifes, and he himself should be more free to learn spiritual secrets for the instruction of the people.

   “Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people,.... Or look out (t) from among them; see Act 6:3, able men; or "men of power" (u); meaning not so much men of strong and robust constitutions, who, as Aben Ezra says, are able to bear labour; but men that have strength of heart, as Ben Gersom expresses it, men of spirit and courage, and are not afraid to do justice, to repress vice, and countenance virtue; or, as Maimonides says (w), have a strong heart, or courage and boldness to deliver the oppressed from the hands of the oppressor.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 18:21–26→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 18:25

   So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Exodus 18:26

   And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Exodus 23:2

   You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 23:21 voice

   “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil - Be singular. Singularity, if in the right, can never be criminal. So completely disgraceful is the way of sin, that if there were not a multitude walking in that way, who help to keep each other in countenance, every solitary sinner would be obliged to hide his head.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 23:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Exodus 23:3

   And do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 23:31 voice

   Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause - The word דל dal, which we translate poor man, is probably put here in opposition to רבים rabbim, the great, or noble men, in the preceding verse: if so, the meaning is, Thou shalt neither be influenced by the great to make an unrighteous decision, nor by the poverty or distress of the poor to give thy voice against the dictates of justice and truth. Hence the ancient maxim, Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum. “Let justice be done, though the heavens should be dissolved.”

   Everything gathered on Exodus 23:3→

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6. Exodus 23:6–8

   You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.

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7. Numbers 27:2

   the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,

   ›Commentary on Numbers 27:22 voices

   “By the door of the tabernacle of the congregation - The place of solemn assembly of the elders. The daughters of Zelophehad made their suit to the princes, the heads of tribes and of families, who were making the census under the superintendence of Moses and Eleazar.

   “To them these young ladies made their application; for it is the duty of magistrates to defend the fatherless, Ps. lxxxii. We find not that the had any advocate to speak for them, but they managed their own cause ingeniously enough, which they could do the better because it was plain and honest, and spoke for itself.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 27:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Deuteronomy 1:15–17

   So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:15–171 voice

   “Captains over thousands, etc. - What a curious and well-regulated economy was that of the Israelites! See its order and arrangement: 1. God, the King and Supreme Judge; 2. Moses, God’s prime minister; 3. The priests, consulting him by Urim and Thummim; 4. The chiefs or princes of the twelve tribes; 5. Chilliarchs, or captains over thousands; 6. Centurions, or captains over hundreds; 7. Tribunes, or captains over fifty men; 8. Decurions, or captains over ten men; and, 9. Officers, persons who might be employed by the different chiefs in executing particular commands.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 1:15–17→

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9. Deuteronomy 1:16

   At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:161 voice

   “Thou shalt not long for division, but shalt bring those who contend to peace. Thou shalt judge righteously, thou shalt not respect persons in reproving for transgressions. Thou shalt not be undecided whether it shall be or no.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 1:16→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Deuteronomy 1:17

    Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 1:172 voices

    “Thou shalt not long for division, but shalt bring those who contend to peace. Thou shalt judge righteously, thou shalt not respect persons in reproving for transgressions. Thou shalt not be undecided whether it shall be or no.

    “Ye shall not respect persons - Heb. faces. Let not the bold, daring countenance of the rich or mighty induce you to give an unrighteous decision; and let not the abject look of the poor man induce you either to favor him in an unrighteous cause, or to give judgment against him at the demand of the oppressor. Be uncorrupt and incorruptible, for the judgment is God’s; ye minister in the place of God, act like Him.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 1:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Deuteronomy 17:8–13

    If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:8–132 voices

    “For thee - He speaks to the inferior magistrates, who were erected in several cities. If thou hast not skill to determine, between blood and blood - That is, in capital causes.

    “If there arise a matter too hard for thee - These directions are given to the common magistrates, who might not be able to judge of or apply the law in all cases that might be brought before them. The priests and Levites, who were lawyers by birth and continual practice, were reasonably considered as the best qualified to decide on difficult points.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 17:8–13→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Deuteronomy 17:9

    You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:92 voices

    “And he may be distinctly named, tho' he be one of the priests, because of his eminency, and to shew that amongst the priests, he especially was to be consulted in such cases. The sentence of judgment - Hebrew. The word, or matter of judgement, that is, the true state of the cause, and what judgment or sentence ought to be given in it.

    “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, 1Ki 12:

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 17:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Deuteronomy 21:19

    his father and mother are to lay hold of him and bring him to the elders of his city, to the gate of his hometown,

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:191 voice

    “And it cannot reasonably be supposed that both would agree without the son's abominable and incorrigible wickedness, in which case it seems a righteous law, because the crime of rebellion against his own parents did so fully signify what a pernicious member he would be in the commonwealth of Israel, who had dissolved all his natural obligations.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 21:19→

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14. Deuteronomy 22:15

    Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 22:151 voice

    “Tokens of the damsel’s virginity - This was a perfectly possible case in all places where girls were married at ten, twelve, and fourteen years of age, which is frequent in the East. I have known several instances of persons having had two or three children at separate births before they were fourteen years of age. Such tokens, therefore, as the text speaks of, must be infallibly exhibited by females so very young on the consummation of their marriage.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 22:15→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Deuteronomy 25:1

    If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:11 voice

    “Render it: (1) If there be a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and the judges judge them, and justify the righteous and condemn the wicked (compare the marginal reference. and Exo 23:7; Pro 17:15); (2) then it shall be, etc. Deu 25:2 Scourging is named as a penalty in Lev 19:20. The beating here spoken of would be on the back with a rod or stick (compare Pro 10:13; Pro 19:29; Pro 26:3).

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 25:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Deuteronomy 25:7

    But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”

    ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:72 voices

    “But the Mosaic law rendered the custom obligatory (Mt 22:25) on younger brothers, or the nearest kinsman, to marry the widow (Ru 4:4), by associating the natural desire of perpetuating a brother's name with the preservation of property in the Hebrew families and tribes.

    “And the man like not to take his brother's wife,.... The provision here made by this law, when this was the case, is such as did not take place before it became a law; for then Onan would have taken the advantage of it, and refused marrying his brother's wife, which it is plain was not agreeable to him, Gen 38:9; as many do now on one account or another.

    Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 25:7→

    Verse page →Original language →