In this shiur we shall examine the significance of these two prohibitions and their reason. We will first clarify the location of these verses in their broader context of Parashat Shoftim.
“You shall appoint shoftim (judges) and shotrim (policemen) in all your gates” (16:18). 'Gates' is a reference to gates of cities. Therefore, the term 'all your gates' is an allusion to cities in Eretz Yisrael. From here we get the impression that the mitzva to appoint shoftim is exclusive to Eretz Yisrael. The Ramban initially agrees with this interpretation, however adds an important modification.
The question of the relationship between the various branches of public authority is discussed at length by Chazal, and their understanding of it is rooted in some explicit verses in the Torah.
Parashat Shoftim presents the idea of a Jewish king, but comparing it to the actual stories of kings like Shaul and David in Tanakh raises many questions. In this shiur, we will try to understand the roles of God through His prophet and the people through their representatives in choosing a monarch. We will also see how the king fits into the power structure delineated by the Torah, in terms of prophets, Kohanim and judges.
Among the social classes that are discussed in Parashat Shoftim, we find "the priests the Levites." In this shiur, we will examine who this phrase is referring to, noting a number of differences between how the Levites are described in Sefer Devarim as opposed to the rest of the Torah.
