987
been found for such officials, possibly impressed with the same seal.^23
In addition, there were local “town ≤ars” during the monarchy (2
Kings 10:1; Isa. 1:23; Jer. 26:10–12, 16; 2 Chron. 29:20).^24 Four l≤r'r
inscriptions on jars at Kun†illet Ajrud may belong to such local
authorities.^25 The ≤arimof Judah were exiled with Jekoniah ( Jer. 29:2;
Ezek. 17:2), but new ≤arim may have been appointed, for ≤arimare
again mentioned during the reign of Zedekiah ( Jer. 34:10, 19).
Probably both groups are included in the indictments of Ezekiel,
who compares them to rapacious wolves (Ezek. 17:12; 22:27) and
Zephaniah, who sees them as roaring lions (Zeph. 3:3).2.3.3 The Meßad Hashavyahu letter is a petition from a poor worker
to a ≤ar(written “ar) asking for him to make his overseer return his
cloak to him. The second extant petition, from a widow asking for
her husband’s field, is probably also to ha[““ar].2.4 “ope†im (“ Judges”)
The judge could be a ≤ar, or an elder, or anyone else who sat to
hear petitions and cases. In the premonarchic period, the leaders of
Israel were “Judges” who began their careers as redeemers, rescued
Israel, and judged it until death. A different model, the prophet-
judge, served as a central judicial authority, like Moses or Deborah
the prophet, who judged Israel, sitting under a palm tree, to which
Israel came up for judgment ( Judg. 4:4–5). Another such judge was
Samuel, who was based at Ramah but visited four other towns to
judge every year (1 Sam. 7:15–17).2.4.1 Deuteronomy 17 calls for a similar system in which cases would
be tried in local courts and the difficult cases would be brought to
the place God chose, to the “the priests, the Levites and the judge
who will be at that time” (Deut. 17:1–11).2.4.2 The judge might also oversee the sentence. If the sentence
was flogging, he would take him down and someone would strike
the convicted man in front of him (Deut. 25:2).(^23) Avigad, “The ‘Governor of the City’ Bulla,” and Barkay, “A Second ‘Governor
of the City’ Bulla.”
(^24) On this, see also Cogan and Tadmor, Kings, on 2 Kings 23:8.
(^25) See Avishur and Heltzer, Royal Administration...
westbrook_f27-975-1046 8/27/03 1:36 PM Page 987