September 7, 2024: Parashah Torah Portion Shoftim - "Judges"

Shabbat: September 6th, 2024 at sunset until September 7th, 2024 at sunset.

Scriptures:

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Haftarah (Prophets): Isaiah 51:12-52

Brit Hadashah (New Covenant): John 1:19-27, Acts 3:22-23

Restore Israel Team: Elihana Elia, Dr. Hadassah Elia & Devorah Silva

We begin Parashat Shoftim with the commandment that the people of Israel should appoint judges (shoftim: שְׁפטים) and officers (shoterim: שׁוטריםִ), in all the walled cities allotted to the tribes, so that justice would be enforced throughout the promised land.

These judges were to be above reproach, neither showing partiality nor accepting bribes on behalf of the wealthy:

“Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:20

Moses commanded the Israelites to enforce theocratic law in every Jewish city of the Promised Land. Shofetim (judges) were to be appointed in every city to decide cases of civil, domestic, and even religious controversies. These judges were to act with mishpat (justice) and tzedakah (righteousness) and were to be entirely impartial in their findings.

Moreover, the shofetim were vested with executive powers of state, so that they directed the enforcement of judicial matters, by means of the services of the shoterim, the police of ancient Israel.

The idea of shofetim came from Yitro's (Moses' father-in-law) and his advice to appoint a hierarchy of sarim (princes) over the people just after the Exodus from Egypt:

"19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves." Exodus 18:19-26

Notice the qualification that these men had to have (verse 21) in order to be chosen for such a significant role: 21 "But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain..."

It is critical for us to understand the importance of the quality in CHARACTER that these men needed to portray in their daily living, in order to fit into these high leveled leadership roles.

This coincides very clearly with the conclusion of the parable YESHUA gave in Luke 16:

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10

If we want to be entrusted with a lot of authority, or a greater degree of leadership, or even to move up in the corporate ladder, we need to prove ourselves trustworthy with the LITTLE THINGS, before we can be given the opportunity to take on a more influential role! Because, as Winston Churchill famously said:

"Great power comes with great responsibility."

This corelates exactly with Luke 12:48

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded."

Therefore, we need to look very closely and soberly at our actions, our motives, our priorities to make sure they align with the qualities that ADONAI expects us to exhibit in our daily living, so that we can make the right decisions, fulfilling the calling and destiny the LORD has for us to accomplish; working out our salvation with fear and trembling!

"Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12

This is the original Biblical principles that the North American judicial system was built upon -and the very principles it needs to RETURN to, today! However, it starts with YOU AND ME!

WE need to do our part to REPENT, and RETURN to the BIBLICAL STANDARDS of living, so that our nation can be HEALED!

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

At last week's Parashah Re'eh - "See", we touched on the fact that, as of September 2nd, we have entered into the Jewish month of Elul, where it marks the beginning of forty days, a "Season of Teshuvah" (Repentance) that leads up to the solemn holiday of Yom Kippur.

So during these 40 days between the first day of Elul, until Yom Kippur, let's set aside this time to really seek the LORD YHWH with all of our hearts, with all of our souls, with all of our mind, with all of our strength, and to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, so that everything else can be added unto us also!

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

Among other things, this meant that every town in Israel was to have its own Bet Din (law court or "house of judgment") with its own shoterim (police force).

In smaller towns, a Bet Din was to have no less than three judges to render binding decisions; in larger towns 23 were required.

Later in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin, a group of 70 shofetim and a nassi (leader) formed the Supreme Court of the nation. The idea of the Sanhedrin goes back to the 70 zekanim (elders) who ate the covenant affirmation meal at Sinai with Moses.

In practical terms this meant that every town in Israel was to have its own law court with a police force to enforce the decision of the appointed judges.

Idol worshippers were to be punished by stoning, however, any conviction had to have been established by the testimony of two or more witnesses (not merely one). The courts were invested with the authority to interpret and decide all matters of Torah law, but if a local court found a case too difficult to decide, it was to be referred to a higher authority (Example: the court of the priests at the Sanctuary) whose decision was considered final.

The people were to set aside tithes for the sustenance of the priests and Levites who were given special responsibilities as God’s ministers.

No form of divination or sorcery was to be used to determine God’s will, and all false prophets and occult practitioners were to be executed.

Three Cities of Refuge were to be established for those accused of manslaughter to make their defense in a court. Laws regarding property boundaries and the role of witnesses in legal proceedings were given.

In addition, various rules of war were stated, including offering terms of peace to an enemy before a battle began and the prohibition against wanton destruction of something of value when cities were besieged.

These rules are practiced to this day by the IDF, in regards to the current war with Hamas and Hezbollah in the north!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL during these intense times! So much wisdom, discernment, protection and favor is needed, not only for the IDF, but for Benjamin Netanyahu, the war cabinet and the people of Israel!

The Torah portion concludes with a procedure to be followed when someone discovered a murder victim in a field, but the identity of the victim was unknown. In such a case, responsibility for the murder rested with the city nearest to the scene of the crime. In an atonement ceremony, the leaders of the city were required to slaughter a young heifer, wash their hands in the priest’s presence, and pray for forgiveness.

Praise the LORD, today we are cleansed and washed clean with the precious BLOOD OF THE LAMB, YESHUA!!

"So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];" Matthew 3:8

Amen and Amen!