(A)If a case is too difficult for you to decide, between [a]one kind of homicide or another, between [b]one kind of lawsuit or another, and between [c]one kind of assault or another, that are cases of dispute in your [d]courts, then you shall arise and go up to (B)the place which the Lord your God chooses. So you shall come to (C)the Levitical priests or the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall inquire of them and they will declare to you the [e]verdict. 10 Then you shall act in accordance with the [f]terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which the Lord chooses; and you shall be careful to act in accordance with everything that they instruct you to do. 11 (D)In accordance with the [g]terms of the law about which they instruct you, and in accordance with the verdict which they tell you, you shall act; you shall not turn aside from the word which they declare to you, to the right or the left. 12 But the person who acts (E)insolently by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the Lord your God, nor to the judge, that person shall die; so you shall eliminate the evil from Israel. 13 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act (F)insolently again.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit blood to blood
  2. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit lawsuit to lawsuit
  3. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit blow to blow
  4. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit gates
  5. Deuteronomy 17:9 Lit word of decision
  6. Deuteronomy 17:10 Lit mouth
  7. Deuteronomy 17:11 Lit mouth

Appeal to a Higher Court

If a matter is too difficult for you to judge—bloodshed,[a] legal claim,[b] or assault[c]—matters of controversy in your villages[d]—you must leave there and go up to the place the Lord your God chooses.[e] You will go to the Levitical priests and the judge in office in those days and seek a solution; they will render a verdict. 10 You must then do as they have determined at that place the Lord chooses. Be careful to do just as you are taught. 11 You must do what you are instructed, and the verdict they pronounce to you, without fail. Do not deviate right or left from what they tell you. 12 The person who pays no attention[f] to the priest currently serving the Lord your God there, or to the judge—that person must die, so that you may purge evil from Israel. 13 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and not be so presumptuous again.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 17:8 tn Heb “between blood and blood.”
  2. Deuteronomy 17:8 tn Heb “between claim and claim.”
  3. Deuteronomy 17:8 tn Heb “between blow and blow.”
  4. Deuteronomy 17:8 tn Heb “gates.”
  5. Deuteronomy 17:8 tc Several Greek recensions add “to place his name there,” thus completing the usual formula to describe the central sanctuary (cf. Deut 12:5, 11, 14, 18; 16:6). However, the context suggests that the local Levitical towns, and not the central sanctuary, are in mind.
  6. Deuteronomy 17:12 tn Heb “who acts presumptuously not to listen” (cf. NASB).