Said R. Jose: ‘For what reason did God give Israel rules of judgement after He had given them the Ten Words (the Decalogue)? Because, as we have been taught, the Torah was given from the side of Power.(Geburah), and therefore He desired to give them peace among themselves in order that the Torah should be observed under both of its aspects. For, as R. Abba has said in the name of R. Isaac, the world is sustained by Justice, as it was created by, and for, the principle of Justice.
R. Abba also said that the words: “Execute judgement in the morning” (Jer. 21, 12) mean that judges should sit in judgement “in the morning”, that is, before they have had anything to eat or drink, since he who executes judgement afterdating and drinking is not a true judge, as it is written: “Ye shall not eat with the blood” (Lev. 19, 26), which means that a judge who eats before sitting in judgement is, as it were, guilty of shedding his neighbour’s blood, for, indeed, he gives the “blood” of his neighbour to someone else. Now this is merely in reference to money matters; how much more, then, in criminal cases, when it is a question of life and death, should judges beware of eating and drinking before executing judgement! ‘
Said R. Judah: ‘He who betrays judgement betrays the supports of the King. And what are these? Those mentioned in the verse, “For I the Lord exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness” (Jer. 9, 25). All things depend upon these three.’ R. Jose said: “These are the stays of the Throne, for it is written: “Righteousness and judgement are the establishment of thy throne” (Ps. 89, 15); and also “And in lovingkindness will the throne be established” (Isa. 16, 5).1The Hebrew text of this page (taken from the Idra D’mishkana) is not translated.
תָּאנָא, אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסִי, מַאי קָא חָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמֵיהַב דִּינִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּתַר עֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן. אֶלָּא הָכִי תָּנֵינָן, מִסִּטְרָא (פ"ד ע"א) דִּגְבוּרָה, אִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, בָּעָא לְמֵיתַן שְׁלָמָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא תְּהֵא נְטִירָא מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, לֵית עָלְמָא מִתְקַיְּימָא, אֶלָּא עַל דִּינָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵא דִּינָא, לָא מִתְקַיְּימָא. וּבְּגִין כָּךְ עָלְמָא בְּדִינָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְאִתְקַיַּים.
Said R. Jose: ‘For what reason did God give Israel rules of judgement after He had given them the Ten Words (the Decalogue)? Because, as we have been taught, the Torah was given from the side of Power.(Geburah), and therefore He desired to give them peace among themselves in order that the Torah should be observed under both of its aspects. For, as R. Abba has said in the name of R. Isaac, the world is sustained by Justice, as it was created by, and for, the principle of Justice.
תָּאנָא, רִבִּי אַבָּא, כְּתִיב (ירמיהו כ״א:י״ב) דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט. וְכִי לַבֹּקֶר, וְלָאו בְּכָל יוֹמָא. אֶלָּא לַבֹּקֶר, עַד לָא יֵיכְלוּן דַּיָּינִין, וְלָא יִשְׁתּוּן, דְּכָל מַאן דְּדָאִין דִּינָא בָּתַר דְּאָכַל וְשָׁתָה, לָאו דִּינָא דִּקְשׁוֹט הוּא, דִּכְתִּיב, (ויקרא י״ט:כ״ו) לא תֹאכְלוּ עַל הַדָּם. מַאי עַל הַדָּם. אַזְהָרָה לְדַיָּינֵי, דְּלָא יֵיכְלוּן עַד דְּדַיְינֵי דִּינָא, דְּכָל מַאן דְּדָאִין דִּינָא בָּתַר דְּאָכִיל וְשָתֵי, כְּאִלּוּ חִיֵּיב דָּמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ לְאַחֲרָא, דְּהָא דָּמֵיהּ מַמָּשׁ יָהִיב לְאַחֲרָא. הַאי בְּמָמוֹנָא, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן בְּדִינִי נְפָשׁוֹת, דְּבָעוּ דַּיָּינֵי לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא, דְּלָא לְמֵידָן דִּינָא אֶלָּא קֹדֶם דְּאַכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט וּכְתִיב, (ירמיה יט) אֲנִי יְיָ' עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ כִּי בְאֵלֶּה חָפַצְתִּי נְאֻם יְיָ'.
R. Abba also said that the words: “Execute judgement in the morning” (Jer. 21, 12) mean that judges should sit in judgement “in the morning”, that is, before they have had anything to eat or drink, since he who executes judgement afterdating and drinking is not a true judge, as it is written: “Ye shall not eat with the blood” (Lev. 19, 26), which means that a judge who eats before sitting in judgement is, as it were, guilty of shedding his neighbour’s blood, for, indeed, he gives the “blood” of his neighbour to someone else. Now this is merely in reference to money matters; how much more, then, in criminal cases, when it is a question of life and death, should judges beware of eating and drinking before executing judgement! ‘
תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, מַאן דִּמְשַׁקֵּר בְּדִינָא, מְשַׁקֵּר בְּתִקּוּנֵי מַלְכָּא. מַאן תִּקּוּנֵי מַלְכָּא. אִינּוּן דְּאִתְּמַר, דִּכְתִּיב עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ. וּכְתִיב כִּי בְאֵלֶּה חָפַצְתִּי נְאֻם יְיָ'. וְכֹלָּא הַאי בְּהַאי תַּלְיָא. (נ"א והלא בהאי תליא) רִבִּי יוֹסִי אָמַר, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן תִּקּוּנֵי כֻּרְסְיָיא, דִּכְתִּיב, (תהילים פ״ט:ט״ו) צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ. וּכְתִיב (ישעיהו ט״ז:ה׳) וְהוּכַן בַּחֶסֶד כִּסֵּא.
Said R. Judah: ‘He who betrays judgement betrays the supports of the King. And what are these? Those mentioned in the verse, “For I the Lord exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness” (Jer. 9, 25). All things depend upon these three.’ R. Jose said: “These are the stays of the Throne, for it is written: “Righteousness and judgement are the establishment of thy throne” (Ps. 89, 15); and also “And in lovingkindness will the throne be established” (Isa. 16, 5).1The Hebrew text of this page (taken from the Idra D’mishkana) is not translated.