The judges
The judges’ duty was to save the Israelites from their enemies and preserve domestic accord. They were to dispense absolute, impartial justice (mišpāṭ) and not take bribes (Deuteronomy 16:19); they were to protect the widow, orphan, and stranger (Deuteronomy 24:17) and not let themselves be unduly influenced by popular opinion or by the plight of […]