Torrey's Topical Index

Return to Torrey's Main Index

Courts of Justice

Have authority from God—Ro 13:1-5

SUPERIOR COURT

• Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness
• —Ex 18:13-20
• Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites
• —De 17:9; Mal 2:7
• Presided over by the governor or the high priest
• —De 17:12; Jud 4:4,5
• Held at the seat of government
• —De 17:8
• Decided on all appeals and difficult cases
• —Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9
• Decisions of, conclusive
• —De 17:10,11

INFERIOR COURT

• In all cities
• —De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7
• Held at the gates
• —Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4
• Judges of, appointed by the governor
• —Ex 18:21,25; De 1:9-15; 2Sa 15:3
• All minor cases decided by
• —Ex 18:26; 2Sa 15:4
• All transfers of property made before
• —Ge 23:17-20; Ru 4:1,2

Re-established by Jehoshaphat—2Ch 19:5-10

Re-established by Ezra—Ezr 7:25

SANHEDRIM OR COURT OF THE SEVENTY

• Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses
• —Ex 24:9; Nu 11:16,17,24-30
• Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history
• —Lu 22:66; Joh 11:47; Ac 5:27
• Consisted of chief priest, &c
• —Mt 26:57,59
• Presided over by high priest
• —Mt 26:62-66
• Sat in high priest's palace
• —Mt 26:57,58

OF THE ROMANS IN JUDEA

• Presided over by the governor or deputy
• —Mt 27:2,11; Ac 18:12
• Place of, called the hall of judgment
• —Joh 18:28,33; 19:9
• Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or
• about religion—Ac 18:14,15
• Could alone award death
• —Joh 18:31
• Never examined their own citizens by torture
• —Ac 22:25-29
• Appeals from, made to the emperor
• —Ac 25:11; 26:32; 28:19

Generally held in the morning—Jer 21:12; Mt 27:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21

Sometimes held in synagogues—Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19; 26:11; Jas 2:2

PROVIDED WITH

• Judges
• —De 16:18
• Officers
• —De 16:18; Mt 5:25
• Tormentors or executioners
• —Mt 18:34

JUDGES OF

• Called elders
• —De 25:7; 1Sa 16:4
• Called magistrates
• —Lu 12:58
• Rode often on white asses
• —Jud 5:10
• To judge righteously
• —Le 19:15; De 1:6
• To judge without respect of persons
• —Ex 23:3,6; Le 19:15; De 1:17; Pr 22:22
• To investigate every case
• —De 19:18
• Not to take bribes
• —Ex 23:8; De 16:19
• To judge as for God
• —2Ch 19:6,7,9
• To decide according to the law
• —Eze 44:24
• To promote peace
• —Zec 8:16
• Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes
• —Ex 18:13; Jud 5:10; Isa 28:6; Mt 27:19
• Examined the parties
• —Ac 24:8
• Conferred together before giving judgment
• —Ac 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31
• Pronounced the judgment of the court
• —Mt 26:65,66; Lu 23:24; Ac 5:40

Both the accusers and accused required to appear before—De 25:1; Ac 25:16

CAUSES IN, WERE OPENED BY

• The complainant
• —1Ki 3:17-21; Ac 16:19-21
• An advocate
• —Ac 24:1

THE ACCUSED

• Stood before the judge
• —Nu 35:12; Mt 27:11
• Permitted to plead their own cause
• —1Ki 3:22; Ac 24:10; 26:1
• Might have advocates
• —Pr 31:8,9; Isa 1:17
• Exhorted to confess
• —Jos 7:19
• Examined on oath
• —Le 5:1; Mt 26:63
• Sometimes examined by torture
• —Ac 22:24,29
• Sometimes treated with insult
• —Mt 26:67; Joh 18:22,23; Ac 23:2,3
• The evidence of two or more witnesses required in
• —De 17:6; 19:15; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1
• Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head
• before punishment—Le 24:14

False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused—De 19:19

Corruption and bribery often practised in—Isa 10:1; Am 5:12; 8:6

THE JUDGMENT OF

• Not given till accused was heard
• —Joh 7:51
• Recorded in writing
• —Isa 10:1
• Immediately executed
• —De 25:2; Jos 7:25; Mr 15:15-20
• Witnesses first to execute
• —De 17:7; Ac 7:58
• Allusions to
• —Job 5:4; Ps 127:5; Mt 5:22
• Illustrative of the last judgment
• —Mt 19:28; Ro 14:10; 1Co 6:2