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2.8.1 The specific judicial role of Priests and Levites was to super-
vise legal disputes and sentencing (Deut. 21:5). They, together with
the judges, tried cases in which one litigant accused a witness of
false testimony (Deut. 19:16–20), and priests were part of the cen-
tral set of judicial authorities that Jehoshaphat set up in Jerusalem
(2 Chron. 19:8), with one chief supreme over religious affairs (2
Chron. 19:11). The priests attended at the decapitated heifer ritual
when a corpse was discovered (Deut. 21:5), and a priest officiated
at the trial of the suspected adulteress (Num. 5:11–31). Priests also
collected fines: if a wronged party had no kin to receive a 120 per-
cent restitution, it was given to the priest. (Num. 5:8).2.8.2 The role of the priests in maintaining Israel’s purity gave them
considerable authority. They could destroy any houses they consid-
ered diseased (Lev. 14:43–45). Supreme within the Temple, they
could expel kings who tried to usurp their functions or authority (2
Chron. 26:16–20). Needless to say, this right depended on the good-
will of the king; Manasseh overran priestly authority and built altars
in the temple (2 Kings 21:4).2.9 Levites
Together with the priests, Levites oversaw legal disputes and sentencing
(Deut. 21:5). They were part of the central judicial array established
by Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 19:8) and were specified to be the “o†erim
there. They attended at the ritual of the decapitated heifer (Deut.
21:5) and were in charge of determining skin afflictions (Deut. 24:8).2.10 Legislation
The Pentateuch is a collection of written laws that theoretically had
been promulgated by God through Moses during Israel’s wander-
ings in the desert prior to their entry into the Promised Land.2.10.1 Reading the Written Law
Reading written books is first mentioned in Sinai, when Moses read
the Book of the Covenant to the people at the first covenantal cer-
emony (Exod. 24:7). Later, in Deuteronomy, Moses reads to the
elders from the book of regulations that he deposits in the ark (Deut.
31:24–28). In similar fashion, Joshua inscribed a copy of the “instruc-
tions of Moses” on the stone altar he built on Mount Ebal ( Josh.westbrook_f27-975-1046 8/27/03 1:36 PM Page 990