The Book of Judges

About the Book

The Book of Judges is the last book in the “Mishne Torah” (“The icing on the cake”) it deals with bringing the template of the national Jewish life in Israel to fulfillment by building two of the founding institutes of the country, the Sanhedrin and the king. The third institution, the Temple, is in the middle: it will be built by the king and the Sanhedrin will sit in it.

The book deals with the authorities of the Sanhedrin, ways of judging and witnesses, parents authority (honoring of parents) and the authority of the king, and throughout the laws of mourning.

It seems that the “Mishne Torah” and the Book of Judges specifically were written from a deep vision of becoming the foundation of a Jewish state that Maimonides pictured. His fresh and sublime instructions for Jewish soldiers, Jewish kings, the start of a new Sanhedrin and Jewish judges. That “is worthy to rule the whole Torah through it” since in the future the Sanhedrin will follow the Mishne Torah, which is a “collection of the Oral Torah” and its name is in line with thנe name of a royal book the king must carry everywhere, explain that this collection is not only a summary of the Torah but also a means to found and advance following the sublime actions of building the Torah institutes empowering Israel and carrying out the purpose of man.

Structure of the Book:

The Laws of the Courts:

How are judges to be assigned? Do you always follow the majority? What punishments are available to the? etc.

The Laws of Witnesses:

How are witnesses questioned? What are edim zomaimim? Who cannot be called as witness? etc.

The Laws of the Rebellious Ones:

What are the limitations for following the Sanhedrin? Until what point does it still count as honoring your parents? etc.

The Laws of the Mourning:

How do you mourn? How far do you go mourning? How do you console the mourner, whats allowed and what forbidden? How do you follow “Love your neighbor as yourself”?

The Laws of Kings and their Wars:

How do you crown a king and what are his duties? What are the laws of war? Who is exempt from war? How does the Torah see non-Jews? What will really happen when the mashiach comes?

Example Pages From the Book

Books From This Category:

The Book of Torts
The book deals with the the rules of torts in Jewish law, and with the responsibility of people over there bodies and possessions.

The Book of Acquisitions
The book deals with the ways of acquisition in Jewish law, collection of property and communication with neighbors.

The Book of Civil Justice
The book deals with financial arrangements that don’t work out well.