My Musing
This Midrash continues from the first midrash of the sidrah. The first midrash Tanhuma of the portion ends with a discussion that the social order depends on the judicial system. This week's selection continues with discussing the identification of judges as the key to social order.
But the judges cannot do it alone. Justice and judgments cannot be counted on, unless they can be enforced. That is the job of the sheriff.
This Midrash continues from the first midrash of the sidrah. The first midrash Tanhuma of the portion ends with a discussion that the social order depends on the judicial system. This week's selection continues with discussing the identification of judges as the key to social order.
But the judges cannot do it alone. Justice and judgments cannot be counted on, unless they can be enforced. That is the job of the sheriff.
מדרש תנחומא (ורשא) פרשת שופטים סימן ב
(דברים טז:יח) "שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יְדֹוָד אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת הָעָם מִשְׁפַּט צֶדֶק"
"Judges and officers you should make for you in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you to your tribe; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment."
Judges are in the court. Police are the enforcers who guide the congregation.
רבי אלעזר אומר, אם אין שוטר אין שופט. כיצד?
כיון שנתחייב אדם בבית דין לחבירו אם אין שוטר שיוציא ממנו, כיון שפורש מן הדיין אין ספיקה ביד הדיין לעשות לו כלום, אלא אם כן מוסרו ביד השוטר והשוטר מוציא ממנו.
אמר רבי אלעזר בן פדת, אלמלא סיטנו של יואב לא היה דוד יכול לעשות הדין. וכן הוא אומר (דברי הימים א,יח:יד,טו) "וַיִּמְלֹךְ דָּוִיד עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה לְכָל עַמּו. וְיוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה עַל הַצָּבָא וִיהוֹשָׁפָט בֶּן אֲחִילוּד מַזְכִּירֹ"
Rabbi Elazar said, If there is no police there is no judge. How?
Since a person is obligated in court to pay his friend, if there is no police to enforce the judgment, once he leaves the court there is no opportunity for the judge to enforce the judgment, except if he transfers the judgment to the sheriff.
Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat, if it were not for the ferocity of Yoav, David would not have been able to establish justice. Such it says "And David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness unto all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder."
אלא כל מי שאינו שומע לדין מוסרין אותו ביד יואב ומוציא ממנו בעל כרחו. וכן איוב אומר (איוב כט:טז,יז) "אָב אָנֹכִי לָאֶבְיוֹנִים, וְרִב לֹא יָדַעְתִּי אֶחְקְרֵהוּ. וָאֲשַׁבְּרָה מְתַלְּעוֹת עַוָּל, וּמִשִּׁנָּיו אַשְׁלִיךְ טָרֶף "
And did David and Yoav judge as one?
Rather, anyone who did not abide by the judgment, was handed to Yoav and he would enforce the judgment against the defendants will. And such did Job say, "I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth."
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