Deuteronomy 17:8

If you have perceived that there is among you a difficult and doubtful matter of judgment, between blood and blood, cause and cause, leprosy and leprosy, and if you will have seen that the words of the judges within your gates vary: rise up and ascend to the place which the Lord your God will choose.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

In Context

7First, the hands of the witnesses shall be upon him who will be put to death, and lastly, the hands of the remainder of the people shall be sent forth. So may you take away the evil from your midst.

9And you shall approach the priests of the Levitical stock, and the judge, who shall be among them at that time, and you shall inquire of them, and they will reveal to you the truth of the judgment.

Read all of Deuteronomy 17

Cross References

Exodus 18:26And they judged the people at all times. But whatever was more serious, they referred to him, and they judged easier matters only.

Exodus 21:20Whoever strikes his male or female servant with a staff, and if they have died by his hands, he shall be guilty of a crime.

Exodus 21:28If an ox has struck a man or a woman with his horn, and if they die, it shall be stoned. And its flesh shall not be eaten; also, the owner of the ox will be innocent.

Numbers 35:11discern which cities ought to be for the protection of fugitives who have shed blood unwillingly.

Numbers 35:19The close relative of the deceased shall put to death the murderer; as soon as he apprehends him, he shall put him to death.

Deuteronomy 12:5Instead, you shall approach the place which the Lord your God will choose among all your tribes, so that he may set his name there, and may dwell in that place.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 17:2-8

The Punishment of Idolatry. ( b. c. 1451.) 1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God. 2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of… Read the whole commentary →

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