theologico-political treatise p4(神学与政治专题研究4)-第22节
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fact; Moses chose seventy colleagues to assist him in governing; because
he was not able to bear alone the burden of the whole people; but he never
passed any law for forming a college of seventy members; on the contrary
he ordered every tribe to appoint for itself; in the cities which God had
given it; judges to settle disputes according to the laws which he himself
had laid down。 (4) In cases where the opinions of the judges differed as to
the interpretation of these laws; Moses bade them take counsel of the High
Priest (who was the chief interpreter of the law); or of the chief judge; to
whom they were then subordinate (who had the right of consulting the
High Priest); and to decide the dispute in accordance with the answer
obtained。 (5) If any subordinate judge should assert; that he was not bound
by the decision of the High Priest; received either directly or through the
chief of his state; such an one was to be put to death (Deut。 xvii:9) by the
chief judge; whoever he might be; to whom he was a subordinate。 (6) This
chief judge would either be Joshua; the supreme captain of the whole
people; or one of the tribal chiefs who had been entrusted; after the
division of the tribes; with the right of consulting the high priest
concerning the affairs of his tribe; of deciding on peace or war; of
fortifying towns; of appointing inferior judges; &c。 (7) Or; again; it might
be the king; in whom all or some of the tribes had vested their rights。(8) I
could cite many instances in confirmation of what I here advance。 (9) I
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A Theologico…Political Treatise
will confine myself to one; which appears to me the most important of all。
(10) When the Shilomitish prophet anointed Jeroboam king; he; in so
doing; gave him the right of consulting the high priest; of appointing
judges; &c。 (11) In fact he endowed him with all the rights over the ten
tribes; which Rehoboam retained over the two tribes。 (12) Consequently
Jeroboam could set up a supreme council in his court with as much right
as Jehoshaphat could at Jerusalem (2 Chron。 xix:8)。 (13) For it is plain that
neither Jeroboam; who was king by God's command; nor Jeroboam's
subjects; were bound by the Law of Moses to accept the judgments of
Rehoboam; who was not their king。 (14) Still less were they under the
jurisdiction of the judge; whom Rehoboam had set up in Jerusalem as
subordinate to himself。 (15) According; therefore; as the Hebrew dominion
was divided; so was a supreme council setup in each division。 (16) Those
who neglect the variations in the constitution of the Hebrew States; and
confuse them all together in one; fall into numerous difficulties。
Chapter XIX。 'Endnote 33'。 (1) I must here bespeak special attention
for what was said in Chap。 XVI。 concerning rights。
End of Part IV Endnotes。
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