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[214]
Let there be seven men to judge in every city, 1
and these such as have been before most zealous in the exercise of virtue
and righteousness. Let every judge have two officers allotted him out of
the tribe of Levi. Let those that are chosen to judge in the several
cities be had in great honor; and let none be permitted to revile any others
when these are present, nor to carry themselves in an insolent manner to
them; it being natural that reverence towards those in high offices among
men should procure men's fear and reverence towards God. Let those that
judge be permitted to determine according as they think to be right, unless
any one can show that they have taken bribes, to the perversion of justice,
or can allege any other accusation against them, whereby it may appear
that they have passed an unjust sentence; for it is not fit that causes
should be openly determined out of regard to gain, or to the dignity of
the suitors, but that the judges should esteem what is right before all
other things, otherwise God will by that means be despised, and esteemed
inferior to those, the dread of whose power has occasioned the unjust sentence;
for justice is the power of God. He therefore that gratifies those in great
dignity, supposes them more potent than God himself. But if these judges
be unable to give a just sentence about the causes that come before them,
(which case is not unfrequent in human affairs,) let them send the cause
undetermined to the holy city, and there let the high priest, the prophet,
and the sanhedrim, determine as it shall seem good to them.
1 Here, as well as elsewhere, sect. 38, of his Life, sect. 14, and of the War, B. II. ch. 20. sect. 5, are but seven judges appointed for small cities, instead of twenty-three in the modern Rabidns; which modern Rabbis are always but of very little authority in comparison of our Josephus.
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