Lawsuits

Legal trials in which the court decides between two opposing parties. OT law makes provision for such trials, insisting on justice for all, regardless of social status.

Regulations relating to lawsuits

Warnings against discrimination on the basis of social status

Exodus 23:6 See also Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Proverbs 22:22–23

You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.

Warnings against false testimony

Exodus 23:1–2 See also Exodus 20:16 parallel Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:15–21; Zechariah 8:16

“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.

Provision for a court of appeal

Deuteronomy 17:8–13 See also Deuteronomy 1:15–18

If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, according to the terms of law they give and the verdict they proclaim. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left from the decision they declare to you. But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will no longer behave arrogantly.

Lawsuits to judge between two parties

Deuteronomy 25:1 See also Exodus 18:16, Exodus 21:22; Job 9:32–35; Proverbs 25:7–10, Proverbs 29:9; Matthew 5:25–26; James 2:5–7

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

Believers should not bring lawsuits against each other

1 Corinthians 6:1–8

Injustice in lawsuits

Amos 5:15 See also Isaiah 29:20–21; Amos 2:7, Amos 5:7–12

Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Excess of lawsuits a symptom of social disorder

Hosea 10:4

They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

Examples of lawsuits

2 Samuel 15:1–4 See also 2 Samuel 14:1–20; 1 Kings 3:16–27; 2 Kings 6:26–29; Acts 18:12–16, Acts 19:35–41

Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”