The Torah portion I covered for my first commentary was Shof’tim, or “Judges.” It’s a portion that’s packed with some of my favorite passages from Deuteronomy, and although I was wearing shoes at the time, I appreciated the home theater carpet that spreads out over the floor of our sanctuary.

Here’s a portion from my commentary. Or listen to it!

Our parashah today is Shof’tim, or Judges, and begins with the rules and regulations for establishing a system of judges to help settle disputes among the people of Isra’el, when they enter the land. Shof’tim covers D’varim 16:18 through 21:9, and covers a wide variety of topics, but there is an overriding theme or two and that is the establishment of a system of authority in the land, and the purpose of that system of authority is to prevent the spread of wickedness, especially the shedding of innocent blood, in the land the L-RD God is giving to the people of Isra’el.

Now, it is important to remember that Moshe is giving the people a reminder of everything they have been through since leaving the land of Egypt, and summarizing all the teachings ADONAI has given them, so that when they enter the land, they will not forget how they are expected to live, if they want to continue to receive the blessings ADONAI has promised them.

The passage begins with instructions on how these judges are to rule in the land:

Deuteronomy 16:19-20 (CJB)
You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright. Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land ADONAI your God is giving you.

Here, God is emphasizing the need to discern justice, rather than acting by other motives.

Tags: home theater carpet, judges, Shof'tim