The Judge, the Witness, and the Evil of the Slanderous Report

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 23:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"You shall not carry a false report" (Exodus 23:1): that he should not speak as an advocate before them [the judges]. From where do we learn that a judge should not hear the claim of one of the litigants before his fellow arrives? Scripture says, "You shall not carry a false report." And from where do we learn that a person should not make a false claim? Scripture says, "You shall not carry a false report." From where do we learn that a person should not present his words to the judge first [privately]? Scripture says, "You shall not carry a false report" — read it also "you shall not cause a false report to be carried." And from where comes the warning to one who speaks slander and to one who accepts slander? Scripture says, "You shall not carry a false report" — "you shall not cause it to be carried." "Do not put your hand with a wicked man" (Exodus 23:1): this is a warning that a wicked man should not be made a witness. And from where do we learn that one witness who knows of his fellow that he is wicked should not testify together with him? Scripture says, "Do not put your hand with a wicked man" — do not join with him in testimony. "To be a witness of violence": do not make a violent man a witness. From here they said: shepherds, robbers, the violent, and all who are suspected concerning money are disqualified from testimony.

Themes

SpeechLawDivine Justice

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