Absalomused to riseearlyand standbesidethe wayto the gate;and when anymanhada suitto cometo the kingfor judgment,Absalomwould callto him and say,"From whatcityare you?" And he would say,"Your servantis from oneof the tribesof Israel."
So Hamorand his sonShechemcameto the gateof their cityand spoketo the menof their city,saying,
So the kingaroseand satin the gate.When they toldallthe people,saying,"Behold,the kingis sittingin the gate,"then allthe peoplecamebeforethe king.Now Israelhad fled,eachto his tent.
They spoketo him, saying,"Ifyou will be kindto thispeopleand pleasethem and speakgoodwordsto them, then they will be your servantsforever."
"The murdererarisesat dawn;He killsthe poorand the needy,And at nighthe is as a thief.
Now when Moses'father-in-lawsawallthat he was doingfor the people,he said,"Whatis thisthingthat you are doingfor the people?Whydo you alonesit[as judge] and allthe peoplestandaboutyou from morninguntilevening?"
"Whenthey havea dispute,it comesto me, and I judgebetweena manand his neighborand makeknownthe statutesof Godand His laws."
They judgedthe peopleat alltimes;the difficultdisputethey would bringto Moses,but everyminordisputethey themselves would judge.
For they cannotsleepunlessthey doevil;And they are robbedof sleepunlessthey make [someone] stumble.
"In his placea despicableperson will arise,on whom the honorof kingshiphas not been conferred,but he will comein a timeof tranquilityand seizethe kingdomby intrigue.
Nowwhen morningcame,allthe chief priestsand the eldersof the peopleconferredtogether againstJesusto put Him to death;
"Ifany caseis toodifficultfor you to decide,betweenone kind of homicideor another,betweenone kind of lawsuitor another,and betweenone kind of assaultor another,being casesof disputein your courts,then you shall ariseand goup to the placewhichthe LORDyour Godchooses.
Now Boazwentup to the gateand satdownthere,and behold,the closerelativeof whomBoazspokewas passingby, so he said,"Turnaside,friend,sitdownhere."And he turnedasideand satdown.
