IN A NUTSHELL In Parashat Shofetim, Moshe finishes explaining how to worship God in the Promised Land. Next he discusses the different kinds of Jewish leaders and how they will govern society. He begins with the structure of the justice system: there must be courts, judges, and officers in every city. All people must be able to approach the justice system and judges must be fair and unbiased. Special procedures must be followed when someone is accused of idolatry, and there is to be a supreme court to deal with difficult cases. There will be three main types of leaders: kings, priests and Levites, and prophets.

Moshe then warns the people to avoid magic, witchcraft, and false prophets. Lying witnesses who testify falsely are to be punished. The laws of going to war are set out. The parasha ends with the laws of responding to an unsolved murder case (a process called the egla arufa).

QUESTION TO PONDER

Which of the types of biblical leaders in the parashado we still have today? Do we have any other kinds of religious leaders not included here?