Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
You must not twist justice or show favoritism to anyone, and you must not accept bribes. A bribe blinds even wise people and corrupts the words of those who do right.
God is commanding His people to uphold fair justice by refusing bribes and avoiding favoritism, because corruption destroys even good people's judgment.
📚 Historical Context
Moses was giving these instructions to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land and establish their own legal system. This command was part of the laws for appointing judges and officials who would govern the nation justly. In ancient times, corruption in legal systems was common, so God was establishing a higher standard for His chosen people.
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