Exodus 18:21

18:21 But you choose ¹  from the people capable men, ²  God-fearing, ³  men of truth, ⁴  those who hate bribes, ⁵  and put them over the people ⁶  as rulers ⁷  of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Deuteronomy 27:25

27:25 ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

Psalms 26:10

26:10 who are always ready to do wrong ⁸ 

or offer a bribe. ⁹ 

Isaiah 5:23

5:23 They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff,

they ignore the just cause of the innocent. ¹⁰ 

Amos 5:12

5:12 Certainly ¹¹  I am aware of ¹²  your many rebellious acts ¹³ 

and your numerous sins.

You ¹⁴  torment the innocent, you take bribes,

and you deny justice to ¹⁵  the needy at the city gate. ¹⁶ 

Micah 7:3

7:3 They are determined to be experts at doing evil; ¹⁷ 

government officials and judges take bribes, ¹⁸ 

prominent men make demands,

and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them. ¹⁹ 

[18:21]  ¹ tn The construction uses the independent pronoun for emphasis, and then the imperfect tense “see” (חָזָה, khazah) – “and you will see from all….” Both in Hebrew and Ugaritic expressions of “seeing” are used in the sense of choosing (Gen 41:33). See U. Cassuto, Exodus, 220.

[18:21]  ² tn The expression is אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל (’anshe khayil, “capable men”). The attributive genitive is the word used in expressions like “mighty man of valor.” The word describes these men as respected, influential, powerful people, those looked up to by the community as leaders, and those who will have the needs of the community in mind.

[18:21]  ³ tn The description “fearers of God” uses an objective genitive. It describes them as devout, worshipful, obedient servants of God.

[18:21]  ⁴ tn The expression “men of truth” (אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת, ’anshe ’emet) indicates that these men must be seekers of truth, who know that the task of a judge is to give true judgment (U. Cassuto, Exodus, 220). The word “truth” includes the ideas of faithfulness or reliability, as well as factuality itself. It could be understood to mean “truthful men,” men whose word is reliable and true.

[18:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “haters of bribes.” Here is another objective genitive, one that refers to unjust gain. To hate unjust gain is to reject and refuse it. Their decisions will not be swayed by greed.

[18:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “over them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:21]  ⁷ sn It is not clear how this structure would work in a judicial setting. The language of “captains of thousands,” etc., is used more for military ranks. There must have been more detailed instruction involved here, for each Israelite would have come under four leaders with this arrangement, and perhaps difficult cases would be sent to the next level. But since the task of these men would also involve instruction and guidance, the breakdown would be very useful. Deut 1:9, 13 suggest that the choice of these people was not simply Moses’ alone.

[26:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “who [have] in their hands evil.”

[26:10]  ⁹ tn Heb “and their right hand is full of a bribe.”

[5:23]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and the just cause of the innocent ones they turn aside from him.”

[5:12]  ²² tn Or “for.”

[5:12]  ²³ tn Or “I know” (so most English versions).

[5:12]  ²⁴ tn Or “transgressions,” “sins.” See the note on the word “crimes” in 1:3 and on the phrase “covenant violations” in 2:4.

[5:12]  ²⁵ tn Heb “Those who.”

[5:12]  ²⁶ tn Heb “turn aside.” They “turn aside” the needy by denying them the justice they deserve at the city gate (where legal decisions were made, and therefore where justice should be done).

[5:12]  ²⁷ sn Legal disputes were resolved in the city gate, where the town elders met.

[7:3]  ²⁹ tn Heb “upon evil [are their] hands to do [it] well.”

[7:3]  ³⁰ tn Heb “the official asks – and the judge – for a bribe.”

[7:3]  ³¹ tn More literally, “the great one announces what his appetite desires and they weave it together.” Apparently this means that subordinates plot and maneuver to make sure the prominent man’s desires materialize.