Kings Should Seek Wisdom

Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.

Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement; he judges people according to their deeds.

until he judges the case of his people and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

The Judges

The judges also, with their respective names, whose hearts did not fall into idolatry and who did not turn away from the Lord— may their memory be blessed!

“So the Lord carried out the threat he spoke against us: against our judges who ruled Israel and against our kings and our rulers and the people of Israel and Judah.

That year two elders from the people were appointed as judges. Concerning them the Lord had said: “Wickedness came forth from Babylon, from elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.”

but she would not tell us. These things we testify.” Because they were elders of the people and judges, the assembly believed them and condemned her to death.

“To King Artaxerxes our lord, your servants the recorder Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and the other members of their council, and the judges in Coelesyria and Phoenicia:

“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges and justices to judge all those who know the law of your God throughout all Syria and Phoenicia, and you shall teach it to those who do not know it.

with the elders and judges of each place, until we are freed from the wrath of the Lord over this matter.”

Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah undertook the matter on these terms, and Meshullam and Levi and Shabbethai served with them as judges.