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Shabbat Shoftim: Deuteronomy 16:18- 21:9; Isaiah
51:12-52:12.
T
his week's Torah portion whose power had limits, the au-
Slwftim, meaning "judges," thority of the prophet is strength-
deals with the responsibil- ened in Deuteronomy. The reason
ities of public officials and Israel is to heed the prophets is
introduces four main types of hu- that they are God's messengers
man authorities: judges, kings, and spokesmen. The foreign
priests and prophets.
Canaanites conducted their af-
Broad principles are indicated fairs in accordance with instruc-
for the rights of each authority. tions of diviners and sorcerers,
Deuteronomy seeks to prevent the but Israel used to conduct affairs
development of any single strong with the instruction of the
focus of prestige or power and prophets. The Israelite religion
thus prevent anyone from
believed that God and not
gaining absolute author-
the king was the true
ity or prestige.
sovereign and that hu-
Fundamental rules of
man kingship was a man-
judicial propriety are dis-
made institution; thus the
cussed. The injunction,
prophet becomes the
"You shall not judge un-
highest authority.
fairly" is invoked with
Laws pertaining to
connection to cases in-
asylum cities are also dis-
volving the needy, who
cussed. Three cities are
are most vulnerable to ju- DR. RICHARD C. assigned to be asylums
HERTZ
dicial mistreatment. As a
where slaves may be pro-
general rule, do not judge SPECIAL TO
tected from retaliation
JEWISH
NEWS
anyone unfairly nor show THE
until a trial can deter-
partiality to favor the poor or dif- mine whether the killing was ac-
ference to the rich. The statement cidental or deliberate. These cities
about justice is included in this served to control the ancient prac-
portion: "Justice, justice shall you tice of blood vengeance. These
pursue;" justice alone should be cities of refuge were designated
the mandate of the judges.
to provide a realistic means of
The sedrah goes on to discuss achieving the aim of protection so
the worshiping of other gods that the innocent not be wrongly
which violates the commandment executed.
"You shall have no other gods ...
The law ofLex Talionis, or the
you shall not bow down to them law of punishment in kind, is dis-
or serve them."
cussed in this sedrah. Deuteron-
The law about a king in vers- omy states clearly that the law of
es 14-20 continues Deuteronomy's Lex Talionis is to be carried out
policy of limiting the power and by a court, not by an individual
prestige of human authorities. person. The penalty of a life for a
The view of the monarchy seeks life, an eye for an eye,a tooth for
to prevent the excesses that oth- a tooth is the classic formula. Tal-
er nations have experienced, es- mudic exogecetic holds that the
pecially Egypt. In Egypt, the king formula is not to be taken liter-
was believed to be a god and he ally, but means that the assailant
was the law. Israel's king, if it is required to indemnify the vic-
ever has one, should not keep tim with a sum of money that cor-
many horses in his personal en- responds to the severity of the
tourage, for they represent royal injury.
self-aggrandizement; nor should
The sedrah concludes with
the king have a large harem to some general laws about warfare:
distract him from God's teaching. the treatment of defeated popu-
The king is to be constitutional lations and property near be-
monarch subject to the laws of sieged cities. They limit wanton
God's teaching in the Torah. He destruction of life and property
personally should study the and are the oldest known rules of
Torah and review it constantly.
war. ❑
Next come the laws concern-
ing how the clergy are to be sup-
Publicity
ported and where they are to live.
Another type of official dis-
Deadlines
cussed is the prophet; in
The normal deadline for local news
Deuteronomy, the prophet is the
and publicity items is noon Thurs-
most important authoritative
day, eight days prior to issue date.
leader. In contrast to the king,
The deadline for birth announce-
Richard C. Hertz is distinguished
professor of Jewish studies at
the University of Detroit-Mercy.
ments is 10 a.m. Monday, four days
prior to issue date; out-of-town obit-,
uaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days
prior to issue date.