Courts of Justice
1. Have authority from God. Ro 13:1-5.
2. Superior court
a. Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness. Ex 18:13-20.
b. Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites. De 17:9; Mal 2:7.
c. Presided over by the governor or the high priest. De 17:12; Jdj 4:4,5.
d. Held at the seat of government. De 17:8.
e. Decided on all appeals and difficult cases. Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9.
f. Decisions of, conclusive. De 17:10,11.
3. Inferior court
a. In all cities. De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7.
b. Held at the gates. Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4.
c. Judges of, appointed by the governor. Ex 18:21,25; De 1:9-15; 2Sa 15:3.
d. All minor cases decided by. Ex 18:26; 2Sa 15:4.
e. All transfers of property made before. Ge 23:17-20; Ru 4:1,2.
4. Re-established by Jehoshaphat. 2Ch 19:5-10.
5. Re-established by Ezra. Ezr 7:25.
6. Sanhedrim or court of the seventy
a. Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses. Ex 24:9; Nu 11:16,17,24-30.
b. Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history. Lu 22:66; Joh 11:47; Ac 5:27.
c. Consisted of chief priest, &c. Mt 26:57,59.
d. Presided over by high priest. Mt 26:62-66.
e. Sat in high priest’s palace. Mt 26:57,58.
7. Of the romans in Judea
a. Presided over by the governor or deputy. Mt 27:2,11; Ac 18:12.
b. Place of, called the hall of judgment. Joh 18:28,33; 19:9.
c. Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion. Ac 18:14,15.
d. Could alone award death. Joh 18:31.
e. Never examined their own citizens by torture. Ac 22:25-29.
f. Appeals from, made to the emperor. Ac 25:11; 26:32; 28:19.
8. Generally held in the morning. Jer 21:12; Mt 27:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21.
9. Sometimes held in synagogues. Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19; 26:11; Jas 2:2.
10. Provided with
a. Judges. De 16:18.
b. Officers. De 16:18; Mt 5:25.
c. Tormentors or executioners. Mt 18:34.
11. Judges of
a. Called elders. De 25:7; 1Sa 16:4.
b. Called magistrates. Lu 12:58.
c. Rode often on white asses. Jdj 5:10.
d. To judge righteously. Le 19:15; De 1:6.
e. To judge without respect of persons. Ex 23:3,6; Le 19:15; De 1:17; Pr 22:22.
f. To investigate every case. De 19:18.
g. Not to take bribes. Ex 23:8; De 16:19.
h. To judge as for God. 2Ch 19:6,7,9.
i. To decide according to the law. Eze 44:24.
j. To promote peace. Zec 8:16.
k. Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes. Ex 18:13; Jdj 5:10; Isa 28:6; Mt 27:19.
l. Examined the parties. Ac 24:8.
m. Conferred together before giving judgment. Ac 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31.
n. Pronounced the judgment of the court. Mt 26:65,66; Lu 23:24; Ac 5:40.
12. Both the accusers and accused required to appear before. De 25:1; Ac 25:16.
13. Causes in, were opened by
a. The complainant. 1Ki 3:17-21; Ac 16:19-21.
b. An advocate. Ac 24:1.
14. The accused
a. Stood before the judge. Nu 35:12; Mt 27:11.
b. Permitted to plead their own cause. 1Ki 3:22; Ac 24:10; 26:1.
c. Might have advocates. Pr 31:8,9; Isa 1:17.
d. Exhorted to confess. Jos 7:19.
e. Examined on oath. Le 5:1; Mt 26:63.
f. Sometimes examined by torture. Ac 22:24,29.
g. Sometimes treated with insult. Mt 26:67; Joh 18:22,23; Ac 23:2,3.
h. The evidence of two or more witnesses required in. De 17:6; 19:15; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1.
i. Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal’s head before punishment. Le 24:14.
15. False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused. De 19:19.
16. Corruption and bribery often practised in. Isa 10:1; Am 5:12; 8:6.
17. The judgment of
a. Not given till accused was heard. Joh 7:51.
b. Recorded in writing. Isa 10:1.
c. Immediately executed. De 25:2; Jos 7:25; Mr 15:15-20.
d. Witnesses first to execute. De 17:7; Ac 7:58.
e. Allusions to. Job 5:4; Ps 127:5; Mt 5:22.
f. Illustrative of the last judgment. Mt 19:28; Ro 14:10; 1Co 6:2.