1
Wherefore, saith Moses: The kings over Israel shall appoint wise men and women who do study the Torah of יהוה (YHVH), and who are lovers of righteousness, fearing not the rich, nor despising the poor, to be judges;
2
And these men and women shall sit upon the judgment seat of the king. And they shall sit before him continually, and this that they should judge in all great causes.
3
And the ear of the judges shall never be closed that they cannot hear, for there shall always be judges to sit in the judgment seat throughout the land of Israel.
4
¶ And so it shall be that a king shall appoint twelve judges to his court, if so many are needed;
5
And all of these shall be High Priests and High Priestesses unto El Eyon; and they shall be at the disposal of the people of Israel for the judging of all great matters;
6
But all the smaller matters may be judged by other judges, as shall be appointed,
7
And this that these may judge the larger causes continually, and that they judge upon the judgment of other judges.
8
And these judges shall hear and judge and determine speedily:
9
Yeah, they shall not delay in their judgments, but they shall judge in righteous judgment without reward, doing no injustice.
10
¶ And if any judges should judge unrighteously, or refuse judgment to the just, or despise the Torah, or take reward for their judgment, then they shall be removed from their places.
11
But all they that do serve faithfully, they shall be given relief in their age and in their infirmity.
12
¶ And the shamashim shall bring the disobedient, the stiffnecked, the peace breakers, and all they who have done great wickedness before the judges,
13
And the judges shall execute their judgment upon all those who withstand it and obey not.
14
And the shamashim shall execute all the orders of the courts, and shall be a fear unto the disorderly, and all revilers;
15
And the shamashim shall do whatsoever the judges shall instruct them in righteousness.
16
¶ And the Chief Shamash shall be the steward of the king which he committeth to the judges and shall render a just account of their stewardship to the judges.
17
And one that doth sit upon the council of the king shall be the Head Shamash or the First Shamash.
18
¶ And in all the villages, and the towns, and the cities shall judges be appointed; one to a village, two to a town, and three to a city, and if the people do require it, more:
19
And they shall be the Elders of the people; men and women of God who shall sit upon the judgment seat of the city and judge all the causes which shall come before them.
20
And they shall sit in judgment, on the judgment seat in the gathering place of their city and there they shall render judgment speedily upon all they who have violated the Torah.
21
¶ And the shamashim shall execute the judgment of the judges upon all who obey not, and shall bring before the judges any peace breakers, and all who do violence.
22
And there shall be a Head Shamash of each village, and town, and city,
23
And the Head Shamash shall render a just account of all they have been given stewardship over as the principal minister of the court.
24
And the shamashim are to be lovers of the Torah, of stout heart, strength of character, and swift of foot.
25
¶ And all these things did Moses say unto Israel, that when the reign of the kings should come over Israel, the will of יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, would be known;
26
But now are the days of the judges of Israel, for the reign of the kings is not yet,
27
Yet unto Israel has El Elyon made known how to set up the judgment seat that Israel should resist the temptation of setting one apart as king over you.
28
And I pray that יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, shall be the King over these lands for all of your days, and that the judges shall judge in righteousness.
29
For in this day, the Levites are the Priests and Priestesses of Israel, and יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, be our king.
30
¶ And the day shall come that all of Israel shall be the Priests and Priestesses, the kings and queens of Israel, and יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, will be the Great High Priest and the King of kings.
31
And until that day, take good heed, therefore, unto yourselves, that ye do love יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim with all thy might, all thy heart, and all thy strength, that ye should keep the Torah of Moses and the covenant.
32
And know for a certainty that if ye do it not, that יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, will no more drive out any of these nations from before you;
33
But they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes until ye do perish from off this good land which יהוה (YHVH), our Elohim, hath given you.