Was God's Law to Israel Just and Fair?

SOME time ago, criminal courts in a Western land accepted faulty evidence against two men accused of murder and sentenced them to death.  Once the error came to light, lawyers worked hard and gained freedom for one of the convicted.  But the best attorneys could do nothing for the other-he has already been executed. 

Since such travesties can arise in any legal system, the Bible urges:  "Justice-justice you should pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20)  Where judges follow that injunction, citizens benefit.  God's Law gave ancient Israel a legal system based on impartiality and fairness.  Let us look at that Law to see whether "all [God's] ways are justice." -Deuteronomy 32:4. 

JUDGES "WISE, DISCREET, AND EXPERIENCED" 

People's interests are served when jurists are competent, fair, and above corruption. God's Law to Israel placed a high value on judges of that caliber.  Early in the wilderness trek, Moses was told to look for "capable  men fearing God, trustworthy men hating dishonest profit," to serve as judges. (Exodus 18:21, 22) Forty years later, he reemphasized the need for "wise, discreet, and experienced men" to judge the people. -Deuteronomy 1:13-17.

Centuries later, King Jehoshaphat" of Judah commanded the judges:  "Pay attention to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for Jehovah, and he is with you when you pass judgment.  Now let the fear of Jehovah be upon you. Be careful about what you do, for with Jehovah our God, there is no injustice, no partiality, no bribe-taking." (2 Chronicles 19:6, 7)  The king thus reminded the judges that if prejudice or greed affected their decision, God would hold them responsible for any resulting harm. 

When Israel's judges lived up to those high standards, the nation felt protected and secure.  But God's Law also provided a set of principles that helped judges to reach fair decisions, even in the most difficult cases.  What are some of those principles?

Next time: PRINCIPLES THAT LED TO FAIR DECISIONS 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2014