Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JUDGE

The common Hebrew term for “judge” (šōpēṭ) is a participle form of the verb “decide,” “rule,” “govern,” “vindicate,” “deliver,” and “judge.” The conventional translation “judge” in all contexts conceals nonforensic meanings which reflect other functions of the šōpēṭ.

The judges’ duty was to save the Israelites from their enemies and preserve domestic accord. They were to dispense absolute, impartial justice (mišpāṭ) and not take bribes (Deut. 16:19); they were to protect the widow, orphan, and stranger (Deut. 24:17) and not let themselves be unduly influenced by popular opinion or by the plight of the poor (Exod. 23:2-3).

In the patriarchal period family and tribal leaders acted as judges (cf. Gen. 38:24). In the wilderness period Moses alone was the judge until Jethro suggested he appoint judges for “every small matter,” and reserve for himself only “a great matter” (Exod. 18:22).

The Jethro system was not operative after the settlement in Canaan when there was no tribal union. In premonarchical Israel the Lord, “Judge of all the earth” (Gen. 18:25), appointed judges by causing the spirit of God to descend upon them (Judg. 3:9) to lead armies and deliver the Israelites from their oppressors (2:16; 3:10). In this context the term špṭ denotes “delivering” or “saving” (yšʿ). The judges were not part of regular tribal government but arose to meet a crisis and judged only during it and shortly thereafter. They judged one or several tribes, but never all. Their military heroism or personal presence enabled them to assume the juridical role also.

With the monarchy the king became supreme judge (2 Sam. 2–3), but there were also appointed local judges (Deut. 16:18). Priests, too, served as judges (Deut. 17:12; 2 Chr. 19:4-11). The elders of a city acted as judges at the gate (Judg. 8:16; Ruth 4:2; Job 29:7-8), and judges also exercised their authority going from town to town in annual circuits as did Samuel (1 Sam. 7:15-16). Judges had authority parallel to that of kings (Ps. 2:10). In Babylonia the king of Persia instructed Ezra to appoint judges and magistrates (Aram. šāpṭîn, dayyānîn), “all who know the laws of your God,” to judge all the people “beyond the river” (Ezra 7:25). In Hellenistic times the high priest replaced the king as the principal judge (2 Chr. 19:8). In NT the Sanhedrin was the supreme court for the Jews. Jesus asserted that God alone should be judge (Luke 6:37; Jas. 4:12).

Daniel Grossberg