What is the context?
Judges and officials must be appointed throughout Israel’s towns to give righteous judgment. They must not deny justice, favor particular people, or accept bribes.
The reason for the bribe prohibition is practical as well as moral: a gift can blind even a wise judge and twist a just decision. The repeated call to pursue justice ties the people’s life in the land to the way their courts treat actual cases.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley distinguishes judges who decide disputes from officers who carry out their decisions, and explains a bribe as biasing judgment. The chapter does not provide the full later structure of every court. Its stated standard is clear without adding an unverified number of judges for a town of a certain size.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.