A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

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to the king” to reclaim the land she left because of famine. The

king sent a man to help her get back what belonged to her. He

went beyond the customary law known from the ancient world, giv-

ing her also all the usufruct of the land for the years she was gone.

He may have considered her special or have been trying to stay

in Elisha’s graces, but it was his royal prerogative to grant her the

usufruct as well as her field (2 Kings 8:1–6).

2.11.1.2 Wise Woman

In early Israel there were other centers to which people could apply

for judgment. During the siege of her city, the Wise Woman appeared

on the wall for a parley to ask that the city be spared because it

was a “city and mother” in Israel, about which they say, “Let them

inquire at Abel and thus it will be concluded” (2 Sam. 20:16–19).

2.11.1.3 “The Judge at That Time”

According to Deuteronomy, difficult cases should be brought to “the

place God chose,” to the “the priests, the Levites and the judge who

will be at that time” (Deut. 17:8–11). Such Levites and Priests and

heads of clans were appointed in Jerusalem by King Jehoshaphat,

who named Amariah the chief priest on matters related to religious

affairs, Zebadiah the nagidof Judah in charge of matters related to

the king, and the Levites as “o†erim. He charged them that when dis-

putes came to them from other towns, they were to be careful to

instruct them so that they would not incur sin (2 Chron. 19:10–11).

2.11.2 Local Courts

Most cases were settled locally. Some judges may have been appointed

by the kings. Moses established a pyramid of judges (Exod. 18);

Samuel appointed his two sons as judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:1–3);

and King Jehoshaphat appointed judges throughout the land (2

Chron. 19:5–11). The ≤arwho sat in judgment may also have been

a royal appointee; the position was administrative as well as judicial.

But the ro"“is the local head of the clan or tribe, and the elders are

local elders, and it seems they were appointed locally (Deut. 16:18).

2.11.3 More than one judge would hear a case; the number may

have varied.

2.11.4 The Bible contains a consistent polemic against judges tak-

ing fees. ”o ̇adis often translated “bribe,” but it refers to any kind

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