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Courts of Justice
Have authority from God - Ro 13:1-5
SUPERIOR COURT
- Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness
- Ex 18:13-20- Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites
- De 17:9; Mal 2:7- Presided over by the governor or the high priest
- De 17:12; Jud 4:4,5- Held at the seat of government
- De 17:8- Decided on all appeals and difficult cases
- Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9- Decisions of, conclusive
- De 17:10,11INFERIOR COURT
- In all cities
- De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7- Held at the gates
- Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4- Judges of, appointed by the governor
- Ex 18:21,25; De 1:9-15; 2Sa 15:3- All minor cases decided by
- Ex 18:26; 2Sa 15:4- All transfers of property made before
- Ge 23:17-20; Ru 4:1,2Re-established by Jehoshaphat - 2Ch 19:5-10
Re-established by Ezra - Ezr 7:25
SANHEDRIM OR COURT OF THE SEVENTY
- Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses
- Ex 24:9; Nu 11:16,17,24-30- Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history
- Lu 22:66; Joh 11:47; Ac 5:27- Consisted of chief priest, &c
- Mt 26:57,59- Presided over by high priest
- Mt 26:62-66- Sat in high priest's palace
- Mt 26:57,58OF THE ROMANS IN JUDEA
- Presided over by the governor or deputy
- Mt 27:2,11; Ac 18:12- Place of, called the hall of judgment
- Joh 18:28,33; 19:9- Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or
about religion - Ac 18:14,15- Could alone award death
- Joh 18:31- Never examined their own citizens by torture
- Ac 22:25-29- Appeals from, made to the emperor
- Ac 25:11; 26:32; 28:19Generally held in the morning - Jer 21:12; Mt 27:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21
Sometimes held in synagogues - Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19; 26:11; Jas 2:2
PROVIDED WITH
- Judges
- De 16:18- Officers
- De 16:18; Mt 5:25- Tormentors or executioners
- Mt 18:34JUDGES OF
- Called elders
- De 25:7; 1Sa 16:4- Called magistrates
- Lu 12:58- Rode often on white asses
- Jud 5:10- To judge righteously
- Le 19:15; De 1:6- To judge without respect of persons
- Ex 23:3,6; Le 19:15; De 1:17; Pr 22:22- To investigate every case
- De 19:18- Not to take bribes
- Ex 23:8; De 16:19- To judge as for God
- 2Ch 19:6,7,9- To decide according to the law
- Eze 44:24- To promote peace
- Zec 8:16- Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes
- Ex 18:13; Jud 5:10; Isa 28:6; Mt 27:19- Examined the parties
- Ac 24:8- Conferred together before giving judgment
- Ac 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31- Pronounced the judgment of the court
- Mt 26:65,66; Lu 23:24; Ac 5:40Both the accusers and accused required to appear before - De 25:1; Ac 25:16
CAUSES IN, WERE OPENED BY
- The complainant
- 1Ki 3:17-21; Ac 16:19-21- An advocate
- Ac 24:1THE ACCUSED
- Stood before the judge
- Nu 35:12; Mt 27:11- Permitted to plead their own cause
- 1Ki 3:22; Ac 24:10; 26:1- Might have advocates
- Pr 31:8,9; Isa 1:17- Exhorted to confess
- Jos 7:19- Examined on oath
- Le 5:1; Mt 26:63- Sometimes examined by torture
- Ac 22:24,29- Sometimes treated with insult
- Mt 26:67; Joh 18:22,23; Ac 23:2,3- The evidence of two or more witnesses required in
- De 17:6; 19:15; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1- Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head
before punishment - Le 24:14False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused - De 19:19
Corruption and bribery often practised in - Isa 10:1; Am 5:12; 8:6
THE JUDGMENT OF
- Not given till accused was heard
- Joh 7:51- Recorded in writing
- Isa 10:1- Immediately executed
- De 25:2; Jos 7:25; Mr 15:15-20- Witnesses first to execute
- De 17:7; Ac 7:58- Allusions to
- Job 5:4; Ps 127:5; Mt 5:22- Illustrative of the last judgment
- Mt 19:28; Ro 14:10; 1Co 6:2 Next Topic (Covenants)