Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 19:17
Then both the men, between whom the controversy [is], shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
17. shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, etc.] That is in the supreme court to be instituted at the One Altar, Deu 17:9. The construction is awkward and betrays expansion. Steuern. and Berth. and Marti take before the judges as alone original, as these only are mentioned in the next v., and understand the reference to be, not to the supreme court but to the newly instituted judges of Deu 16:18. But it is quite as probable that before the Lord was all that the original text of the law contained, and that the rest was added from Deu 17:9 by an editor. This is just one of the difficult cases, which in more primitive conditions were referred to some representative of the Deity and which, on the institution of the supreme court at Jerusalem, Israel was directed to take there (cp. Deu 17:8, between plea and plea, the same Heb. term as is here rendered controversy).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Both the men, between whom the controversy is – Not the accused and the false witness, but the plaintiff and defendant (compare Exo 23:1) who were summoned before the supreme court held, as provided in Deut. 17, at the sanctuary. The judges acted as Gods representative; to lie to them was to lie to Him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
See Poole “Deu 17:9,12“, and observe that the controversies both here and there referred to, and to be determined by the priests and judges, are only between man and man, and not doctrines of faith and manners, as the papists for their own advantage pretend.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then both the men between whom the controversy is,…. The man that bears the false witness, and the man against whom it is borne:
shall stand before the Lord; as in the presence of him, the omniscient God, and as represented by judges and civil magistrates, whose vicegerents they are; so it seems to be explained in the next words, which are exegetical of these:
before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days; which shall compose the sanhedrim, or court of judicature; and this seems to confirm it, that by priest and judge, in De 17:9 are meant priests and judges; Jarchi says, this Scripture speaks of witnesses, that is, of the false witness that testifies wrong against a man, and another that contradicts his testimony, and teaches that there is no witness by women; and so it is elsewhere said a, an oath of witness is made by men, and not by women; on which it is observed b that a woman is not fit to bear witness, as it is written,
then both the men,…. men and not women; and the above writer remarks further, that it teaches that they ought to bear testimony standing.
a Misn. Shebuot, c. 4. sect. 1. b Bartenora in ib.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The two men between whom the dispute lay, the accused and the witness, were to come before Jehovah, viz., before the priests and judges who should be in those days – namely, at the place of the sanctuary, where Jehovah dwelt among His people (cf. Deu 17:9), and not before the local courts, as Knobel supposes. These judges were to investigate the case most thoroughly (cf. Deu 13:15); and if the witness had spoken lies, they were to do to him as he thought to do to his brother. The words from “ behold ” to “ his brother ” are parenthetical circumstantial clauses: “ And, behold, is the witness a false witness, has he spoken a lie against his brother? Ye shall do, ” etc. , generally to meditate evil. On Deu 19:20, see Deu 13:12.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
17. The men, between whom the controversy is The original parties in the case, one of whom is supposed to have brought into court the false witness. But Keil thinks the accused and the false witness are the men referred to in this clause.
Before the Lord, priests judges At the place appointed by Jehovah for the sanctuary, before the highest court, this judicial investigation was to be made. The crime of bearing false witness was of such grave moment that it was to be treated with the greatest solemnity.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
before. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read “even before”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 17:9, Deu 21:5, Mal 2:7, Mat 23:2, Mat 23:3
Reciprocal: Exo 21:6 – the judges Exo 22:8 – the judges Deu 16:18 – Judges Deu 17:8 – get thee up Deu 25:1 – General Deu 26:3 – the priest 2Sa 19:29 – Thou Isa 50:8 – let us Act 25:16 – and have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy [is], shall stand before the {h} LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
(h) God’s presence where his true ministers are assembled.