Shoftim

📜 The Story

Parshat Shoftim opens with the command to appoint judges and officers in every city gate, so there will be true justice for the Jewish people. Moshe says the famous verse, 'Tzedek tzedek tirdof,' Justice, justice shall you pursue, teaching us not only to judge fairly but to actively pursue justice everywhere.

The parsha warns against taking bribes, because a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists justice. It also forbids planting a tree near Hashem's altar or setting up a sacred pillar, and forbids offering a blemished animal as a sacrifice.

The parsha teaches the laws of a king for Israel. If the people want to appoint a king, he must be from among the Jewish people, may not gather too many horses, wives, or too much silver and gold, and must write himself a Torah scroll and read from it all his days so his heart does not become proud over his brothers.

Moshe promises the people that Hashem will raise up a prophet like him, and warns against turning to sorcerers, diviners, and fortune tellers. The parsha also commands setting aside additional cities of refuge for someone who kills by accident, teaches that two or three witnesses are needed to punish someone, and that a false witness receives the same punishment he tried to bring on his fellow.

The end of the parsha brings the laws of war. Someone who built a new house, planted a new vineyard, got engaged, or is fearful, is exempt from going to battle. It is forbidden to cut down fruit trees during a siege on a city, a mitzvah known as bal tashchit. And if a murdered person is found in a field with the killer unknown, the elders of the closest city perform a special ceremony called eglah arufah.