Commentary for Deuteronomy 16:20

צדק צדק תרדף JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALT THOU PURSUE — go to (search after) a reliable court (Sifrei Devarim 144:14; Sanhedrin 32b).

JUSTICE, JUSTICE SHALT THOU PURSUE. “Go to seek a reliable court. THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE, AND INHERIT THE LAND. The appointment of qualified judges is of sufficient [importance] to sustain Israel and to settle them upon their Land.” This is Rashi’s language quoting from the Sifre.¹⁷Sifre, Shoftim 144. The reason for the repetition [of the word “justice”] is to indicate that the judges should judge the people with righteous judgment,¹⁸Verse 18. and you must also pursue justice constantly by going from your place to the place of the great Sages: “after Rabban¹⁹The title “Rabban” indicates that he was the chief of the Sanhedrin. Rabban Yochanan ben Zaccai served as the chief of the Sanhedrin immediately following the destruction of the Second Temple. It was he who obtained permission from Vespasian to be “given Jabneh and its Sages.” It was there, in Jabneh, that the centrality of Jewish spiritual authority was reaffirmed after the destruction. See Note 90 further. Yochanan ben Zaccai to Jabneh; after Rabbi [Yehudah Hanasi] to Beth Shearim.”²⁰This city in the Lower Galilee served as the center wherein “Rabbi” and all the Sages of the generation compiled the entire Mishnah.
And Rabbi Abraham [ibn Ezra] commented: “Justice, justice. It is mentioned twice in order to indicate that one should pursue justice whether it would be to his advantage or loss. Or [it may be mentioned] one time after another for emphasis.” But in the Midrash of Rabbi Nechunya ben Hakanah²¹Sefer Habahir 74. See Vol. I, 24, Note 42. the Rabbis interpreted it by way of a secret. They said: “Justice — this is His attribute of justice in the world, as it is said, Justice, justice shalt thou pursue. After that it is written, that thou mayest live, and inherit the Land. If you will judge yourself [knowing whence you came, and whither you are going, and before Whom you are about to give account and reckoning]²²So explained by Abusaula. you will live. If not, He will judge you and affirm [His judgment over you] against your will. And why is justice mentioned twice? Because it is written, from the brightness before Him.²³II Samuel 22:13. The verse continues: coals of fire flamed forth. The two terms brightness and fire thus refer to these two aspects of justice (Abusaula). The first justice refers to actual justice, this being the Divine Glory, as it is written, righteousness lodges in her.²⁴Isaiah 1:21. And what is the second justice? It is that which frightens the righteous” [making them fearful that perhaps they do not merit the World to Come].²⁵Abusaula. See also Vol. I, p. 401 that such is the nature of the righteous. And there [in that Midrash] it is further explained:²⁶Sefer Habahir 75. “Justice is the helmet of salvation upon His head.²⁷Isaiah 59:17. The ‘head’ denotes only truth, as it is said, The beginning of Thy word is truth,²⁸Psalms 119:160. and ‘truth’ is peace, as it is said, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?²⁹II Kings 20:19. etc.” If so, Scripture is stating here, “You are to judge in your court [to attain] justice, and pursue therein justice and [try to] achieve it, that thou mayest live in the World to Come with the second justice [which alludes to Him]³⁰Abusaula. Who is the Higher Justice, this being the great light hidden for the righteous for the Time to Come, and this is also the Might of the Holy One, blessed be He; and thou shalt inherit the Land, the Land of Israel, with the first justice.”

צדק צדק תרדוף. When you are about to put this legislation into practice, the party in charge of appointing such judges is told by Moses to select only those who are already known for their sense of fair play and righteousness. He will have to look for such people all over the tribe. If potential judges do not have all the qualifications which are desirable in a judge, this qualification of fairness is the overriding quality all must possess. This is what the prophet Samuel was told by G’d when he had to look for a replacement of King Sha-ul among the sons of Yishai. (Samuel I 16,7) He was specifically told to ignore external appearances.