Derasha 2 on Shoftim 16:18

TT #2 · Parashas Shoftim · First Aliyah · Passuk 18

The Complete Passuk

שֹׁפְטִ֣ים וְשֹֽׁטְרִ֗ים תִּֽתֶּן־לְךָ֙ בְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ לִשְׁבָטֶ֑יךָ וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם מִשְׁפַּט־צֶֽדֶק׃

You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Eternal your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 16b (same as previous unit).

Sefaria · Sanhedrin 16b

Core Text of Chazal

תניא, רבי יהודה אומר, מניין שאחד ממונה על כולם, ת״ל תתן לך.

English: It was taught: Rabbi Yehudah says, From where do we know that one person is appointed over all of them? From the verse “you shall appoint for yourself.”

On the daf / in context

The phrase “titen lekha” is read as indicating a single authority responsible for the appointments (understood as the Great Sanhedrin or the Nasi / distinguished member of the court).

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The singular “lekha” is used to teach that one central figure oversees the appointments.

What Is Learned

There must be one appointed authority responsible for establishing the system of judges and officers.