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Appointing Judges

Deuteronomy’s Wilderness Account: Ancient Revisionist History

Moses revises the account of why he appointed judges to oversee the Israelites, and the way the wars with the Amorites of the Transjordan were conducted. Examining the changes uncovers the ideological stances that motivated this revisionist history.

Prof.

Mordechai Cogan

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The Founding of Israel’s Judicial System

Even before Israel receives laws at Sinai, Exodus tells how Jethro the Midianite advises Moses to establish judges, a unique origin story for the judicial system with no parallel in ancient Near Eastern law collections. Deuteronomy revises the story to credit Moses with this idea after the revelation at Horeb.

Prof.

Bernard M. Levinson

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Deuteronomy’s Justice System: Real and Ideal

Deuteronomy’s legal system is complex, combining descriptions of how law actually functioned with elements of ideal law.

Prof.

Yigal Levin

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Parry Moshe

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The Opening of Devarim: Redaction Criticism and Modern Midrash

Dr. Rabbi

Zev Farber

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Deuteronomy’s Jewish Democratic and Egalitarian Agenda

A study of Deuteronomy’s polemical revision of the Exodus 18 judges account.

Prof. Rabbi

David Frankel

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Why Devarim Matters to Jews Today

It Is Very Close to You

Rabbi

Shoshana Cohen

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When the God of Justice Goes Rogue

YHWH commissions Isaiah to distract the people of Judah so that they continue to sin and then YHWH can punish them harshly. In contrast to other biblical figures such as Abraham and Moses, Isaiah is silent at this injustice.

Prof.

Marvin A. Sweeney

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Judges Who Are Magistrates

Who were the shoftim?

Prof.

Mark Leuchter

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