Deuteronomy 17:8-13

If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make between one kind of bloodshed and another,¹ one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another²—any such matters of dispute in your towns—then you shall immediately go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose,³ where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge who is in office in those days;⁴ they shall announce to you the decision in the case. Carry out exactly the decision that they announce to you from the place that the Lord will choose, diligently observing everything they instruct you.⁵ You must carry out fully the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left.⁶ As for anyone who presumes to disobey the priest appointed to minister there to the Lord your God, or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.⁷ All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not⁸ act presumptuously again.⁹

1 Acknowledging that these cases are not cut-and-dried.

2 These are clearly what we would today consider “secular” matters, not just today's “religious” matters

3 i.e. - the Temple, which is central even in these matters.

4 The priests and the “judge” are the final arbitrators hen the appointed officials fall short

5 Reminiscent of the commands to follow God's word.

6 Again, reminiscent of the commands to follow God.

7 Killing anyone who disobeys a priest is “purging evil”.

8 Really? Their track record, even in the face of death, isn't all that good.

9 The purpose of killing is once again to scare others into obedience.


Take-home: The priests are given authority as final arbitrators in difficult legal decisions. Their absolute authority is stressed.