Derasha 3 on Shoftim 16:18

TT #3 · 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

בכל שעריך. מלמד שמעמידין שופטים ושוטרים בכל עיר ועיר.

English: “In all your gates” — this teaches that we appoint judges and officers in every city.

On the daf / in context

The phrase “be-khol she’arekha” establishes the local requirement: a court system in each city, in addition to tribal arrangements discussed in the following unit.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The word “gates” is taken as referring to every city.

What Is Learned

Judges and officers must be appointed in every city, not only in central locations.