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17:8

17:8

If you are unable to reach a decision in a case involving capital punishment, litigation, leprous marks, [or any other case] where there is a dispute in your territorial courts, then you must set out and go up to the place that God your Lord shall choose.
Ki yipale mimecha davar lamishpat beyn-dam ledam beyn-din ledin uveyn nega lanega divrey rivot bish'areycha vekamta ve'alita el-hamakom asher yivchar Adonay Eloheycha bo.

Commentary:

unable to reach a decision
(cf. Malbim). Pala in Hebrew. Or, 'if it is concealed' (Targum; Rashi), 'separated' (Targum Yonathan), 'with a hidden answer' (Saadia), or, 'too difficult' (Septuagint)

involving
(cf. HaKethav VeHaKabbalah).

capital punishment
(Rashi; Rashbam; Ibn Ezra). Literally, 'blood.' Or, '[clean and unclean] blood' (Sanhedrin 87a; Niddah 19a; Targum Yonathan; Ramban); cf. Leviticus 15:19, 25.

leprous marks
(Targum; Rashi; Rashbam). Nega in Hebrew. Or, 'damages for injury' (Ibn Ezra; Septuagint).

where there is a dispute...
(Targum; Rashi). Or, 'or any other dispute in your settlements' (Ramban; Septuagint).

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