Another interpretation, “judges and officers you shall place” – this is what the verse said: “If I hone [shanoti] My flashing [berak] sword, and My hand will grasp judgment, I will return vengeance upon My enemies, and those who hate Me, I will requite. I will intoxicate My arrows with blood, and My sword will devour flesh, from the blood of the slain and the captive, from the heads of the enemy raiders” (Deuteronomy 32:41–42).
What is meant by this verse? Rabbi Yehuda and Rav Naḥman, Rabbi Yehuda says: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If I hone [shonen] My sword like lightning [barak], I will destroy My world. What will I do instead? I will grasp judgment in My hand.’10I will restrain the judgment from being implemented.
Rabbi Naḥman said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If I change [meshaneh] the attribute of justice,11If I no longer moderate it with the attribute of mercy. I will take out one lightning bolt [barak] and destroy the world. What will I do instead? I will grasp judgment in My hand.’
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: There are two things held in the right hand of the Holy One blessed be He, righteousness and Torah. Righteousness, as it is written: “Your right hand is filled with righteousness” (Psalms 48:11). Torah, as it is written: “From His right hand, a fiery law to them” (Deuteronomy 33:2). There are two things in His hand, and they are: The soul and justice.
The soul, as it is written: “In whose hand is the life of every living thing” (Job 12:10). And justice, as it is written: “And My hand will grasp judgment.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The soul and justice are both in My hand; you keep justice, and I will keep your souls.’ That is “judges and officers.”