seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Exodus 23:6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
9 “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
9 “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
Here's how easy English commentary approaches these verses.
Verses 6-9 contain 4 orders to people who have authority as judges.
Verse 6: (1) A judge must be fair to poor people.
Verse 7: (2) A judge must be cautious whether or not he declares death as someone’s punishment. Perhaps people lied when they accused that person. And really that person is innocent. God himself would decide whether the person was guilty.
Verse 8: (3) A judge must not take money from people. If people give money to a judge, it prevents a fair decision. In the New Testament, a ruler called Felix wanted money. He hoped that Paul would pay him. Then he would free Paul (Acts 24:26).
Verse 9: (4) This repeats the advice in Exodus 22:21. The people must remember their lives when they were strangers in Egypt. And also the judges must remember that when they are carrying out their official duties. Judges should know from their experience what it was like as a stranger. So they should make sure that they behave fairly to strangers.
Verse 7: (2) A judge must be cautious whether or not he declares death as someone’s punishment. Perhaps people lied when they accused that person. And really that person is innocent. God himself would decide whether the person was guilty.
Verse 8: (3) A judge must not take money from people. If people give money to a judge, it prevents a fair decision. In the New Testament, a ruler called Felix wanted money. He hoped that Paul would pay him. Then he would free Paul (Acts 24:26).
Verse 9: (4) This repeats the advice in Exodus 22:21. The people must remember their lives when they were strangers in Egypt. And also the judges must remember that when they are carrying out their official duties. Judges should know from their experience what it was like as a stranger. So they should make sure that they behave fairly to strangers.
