Derasha 7 on Shoftim 16:18

TT #7 · 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 Sifrei Devarim.

Sefaria · Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

ושפטו את העם. אפילו בעל כרחם.

English: “And they shall judge the people” — even against their will.

On the daf / in context

Sifrei notes that the language “they shall judge the people” (rather than “between the people”) implies that the court may compel parties and enforce judgment even when one party is unwilling.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The phrasing “et ha-am” is taken to include compulsory jurisdiction.

What Is Learned

Courts have the authority to judge and enforce even when the parties do not voluntarily submit to judgment.