Deuteronomy 1:18

¹⁷Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”¹⁸And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do.

Summary

In Deuteronomy 1:18, Moses reminds the Israelites of the importance of justice and impartiality in their community. He instructs them to hear out both the small and great alike, showing no partiality in judgment. This verse underscores the principle of fairness and equality before the law, emphasizing that every individual deserves a fair hearing regardless of their status. By upholding justice in this way, the Israelites were called to reflect the righteousness and integrity of God in their society.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do. Delivered to them all the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which were then given him at Mount Sinai. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do. Delivered to them all the laws, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, which were then given him at Mount Sinai. Deuteronomy 1:19 deu 1:19 deu 1:19 deu 1:19And when we departed from Horeb,.... As the Lord commanded them to do, when they were obedient: we went through all the great and terrible wilderness; the wilderness of Paran, called "great", it reaching from Mount Sinai to Kadeshbarnea, eleven days' journey, as Adrichomius (l) relates; and "terrible", being so hard and dry as not to be ploughed nor sown, and presented to the sight something terrible and horrible, even the very image of death; to which may be added the fiery serpents and scorpions it abounded with, Deu 8:15, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites; that is, in the way that led to the mountain: as the Lord our God commanded us; to depart from Horeb, and take a tour through the wilderness towards the said mountain: and we came to Kadeshbarnea; having stayed a month by the way at Kibrothhattaavah, where they lusted after flesh, and seven days at Hazeroth, where Miriam was shut out of the camp for leprosy during that time. (l) Theatrum Terrae, p. 116.