Deuteronomy 17:10, commentary and pictures

The verse concerns hard controversies in judgment — between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke — that are too difficult to decide and must therefore be brought to the priests the Levites and to the judge at the place the Lord shall choose. It belongs to a tiered order in which local officers handle matters within their charge and refer problems too difficult for them to a higher authority for final settlement. A local officer unable to settle a difficult matter was to refer it upward for a final decision and then follow the ruling given by the authorities at the place the Lord chose.

The sentence of judgment and the instruction in the law shown and taught by those authorities must then be done and fully observed according to all that they inform, without declining to the right hand or to the left. Obedience is owed to whatever those in Moses' seat bid observe, while their evil works are not to be followed. The one who acts presumptuously by refusing to listen to the priest or the judge must die, so that evil is put away from Israel and all the people hear and fear and do no more presumptuously.

Elders are to judge matters of difference, and the people as the church are to carry out the punishment to put evil away. This law of higher-court judgment applies after a fugitive is admitted to a city of refuge, when a regular trial before a higher court follows with witnesses summoned and time given for accusers to appear. The verse also sets forth the priestly teaching office to teach the knowledge of God, to show forth His praises, and to minister His goodness, an office meant for all Israel to share so that the whole people, thoroughly knowing Him, might serve as His priests to all nations and teach them the way of life.