After him Elon the Zebulunite led Israel for ten years.

before the Lord! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in a just manner.

“Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers,

“As for you, son of man, are you willing to pronounce judgment, are you willing to pronounce judgment on the bloody city? Then confront her with all her abominable deeds!

The Lord raised up leaders who delivered them from these robbers.

He leads counselors away stripped and makes judges into fools.

Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?

So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!

When he is judged, he will be found guilty! Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.

You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; pronounce judgment on my behalf!

They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.

I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens and judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner.

You must appoint judges and civil servants for each tribe in all your villages that the Lord your God is giving you, and they must judge the people fairly.

May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!”

He issued this edict because a Passover like this had not been observed since the days of the judges; it was neglected for the entire period of the kings of Israel and Judah.

He told the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the Lord, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.

before the Lord, for he comes! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in accordance with his justice.

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the sovereign Lord.

“‘In a controversy they will act as judges; they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe my Sabbaths.