Portion 48 of 54 · Deuteronomy
שֹׁפְטִים
Shoftim
Courts, kings, prophets and priests — and every one of them is put under limits.
Start by reading it
Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9
6 chapters. About 24 minutes at an unhurried pace.
Paired reading from the prophets: Isaiah 51:12–52:12
What happens
- 01
Appoint judges and officers. Take no bribe. Justice, justice shalt thou pursue.
- 02
If you appoint a king, he may not multiply horses, wives or silver, and must write out a copy of the law himself.
- 03
Cities of refuge, honest witnesses, and rules that restrain war.
- 04
Do not destroy the fruit trees when you besiege a city.
The thing most people walk past
The king has to copy out the law by hand
Not read it — write it, personally, and keep it with him and read it all his life. The one person who could put himself above the law is required to hand-copy the thing that binds him.
One verse to carry
shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live.
In Hebrew: tzedek, tzedek tirdof — justice, justice, pursue. Pursue, because it does not stay still and will not come to you.
A question to sit with
'Justice, justice shalt thou pursue.' Why is the word said twice?
There is no answer key. This is the part you take with you.