Deuteronomy 16:18-20·~1 min
Judges and Justice
Judges and officials are to be appointed in every town to judge rightly, without partiality or bribes. Israel is to pursue justice alone so it may live and possess the land.
Y18ou are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment. 19Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Section summaryMoses commands Israel to appoint judges and officials in every town and requires judgment that is straight and unbought. Justice is to be pursued without distortion, because Israel's life in the land depends on it.
Role in the chapterAfter the feasts, the chapter turns from gathered worship to ordinary civic life. It shows that covenant faithfulness is not only celebratory and liturgical, but also legal, local, and public.