[545] Cunæus de rep. Hebr. p. 109.
The Colledge or company of these seventy, exercised judgment, not only under the Kings and Judges,[546] but their authority continued in times of vacancies, when there was neither Judge nor King to rule Israel, and it continued until[547] Herod put them down, and destroyed them, to secure himself of the Kingdome.
[546] P. Galat. l. 4. cap. 5.
[547] Joseph. Antiq. l. 14. c. 17.
Here some may object, that there were no such Courts, or their liberty much infringed in Samuels time: for he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, 1 Sam. 7. 16. To which, I take it, we may say, that as the Emperours of Rome had power to ride Circuits, and keep Assises, which was done without any infringement of the liberties of their Senate: So the Kings and Judges in Israel had the like power, and yet the authority of their Courts stood firm. This kind of judging by keeping Assises, the Romans termed βουλὴν κυρίαν, the other βουλὴν σύγκλητον.
CHAP. V.
Properties required in Judges, and the manner of their election.
The Law of God required these properties in Judges: 1. Wisdom. 2. Understanding. 3. Integrity. 4. Courage. Deut. 1. 13. Others are reckoned, Exod. 18. 21. namely, 5. The fear of God. 6. Love of Truth. 7. Hating of coveteousness: to these may be added the eighth, namely, having no respect of persons, Deut. 1. 17. These two last especially, the Heathens required in their Judges: whence the Thebans[548] painted Justice without hands, and without eyes, to intimate that Judges should receive no gifts, nor be swayed with sight of persons.
[548] Plut. de Iside.