Torah Portion Summary
The word Shoftim means Judges (שׁפְטִים). It begins with the commandment that the people of Israel should appoint judges "shoftim" and officers "shoterim" in all the walled cities alloted to the tribes, so justice would be enforced throughout the promised land. These judges were to be above reproach, neither showing partiality nor accepting bribes on behalf of the wealthy: "Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you." In practical terms this meant every town in Israel was to have its own law court with a police force to enforce the decision of the appointed judges. Within this portion are several laws governing the judicial process and other institutions of the state: the establishment of law courts, the clerical roles of priests and Levites, rules about prophets, the criteria for choosing a king, the testimony of witnesses, limitations on a king’s sovereignty, and instructions concerning warfare.
Haftarh Portion Summary
The Haftarah for Shoftim is called the fourth of the "Haftarot of Consolation," offering encouragement to Israel even in the face of exile.
"I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid
of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,
and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth?"
(Isa. 51:12-13)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns" (Isaiah 52:7). After the great Tribulation, Israel will finally receive the Mashiach Yeshua, and the salvation of Israel will be evident to all the world. Some of the Jewish sages have said that the reference to the "feet" of the messenger has to do with the reinstitution of the "Shalosh Regalim," the three major Pilgrim festivals, Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, when the Jewish people would travel on the hills of Jerusalem to the Temple to worship the LORD. At any rate, when the LORD returns to Jerusalem and all Israel is saved, all of the mo'edim will clearly reveal how Yeshua is the fulfillment of their comfort and their salvation.
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
The passage from the gospel of John recalls the two questions the soferim (scribes) asked John the Baptist:
"Are you Elijah?" (John 1:21) - This referred to Malachi's prophecy (Mal. 4:5) that Elijah would come as a messenger before the appearance of the Messiah. To this day Jews around the world still set out a cup of wine for Elijah at Passover - in anticipation of the his arrival as the forerunner of the Messiah.
"Are you the Prophet?" (John 1:21). This referred to Moses' prophecy that God would send "a Prophet like me" (Deut. 18:15-19).
John's answer was that he was a "voice of one crying out in the wilderness" (Isa. 40:3) sent to bear witness to the Mashiach Yeshua, who was presently in their midst. The passage from the Book of Acts recalls the Apostle Peter's message given at Solomon's portico where he quoted Deuteronomy 18:18-19 and identified Yeshua as the Prophet like unto Moses.