Tafsiran Imamat 19:15: Tze'enah Ure'enah, Rashi, Kli Yakar & Sforno

“Do not favor the poor” [19:15]. When a poor person comes before you with a communal leader for judgment, you will help the poor person. You will think that the communal leader is responsible to feed the poor person. You will then judge the poor person innocent and the communal leader guilty, expecting that the communal leader should support the poor person. You should not do this.¹²Rashi, Leviticus, 19:15.

“Do not show deference to the rich” [19:15]. You should not show deference to any communal leader. You will say, no communal leader should be embarrassed.¹³Rashi, Leviticus, 19:15.

לא תעשו עול במשפט YE SHALL NOT DO INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT — This teaches us that the judge who perverts judgment is called an "unjust person" (עַוָּל), hateful and detested, doomed to destruction, and an abomination. He is rightly called thus for the unjust person (עַוָּל) is called by Scripture "abomination", as it is said (Deuteronomy 25:16) "For all that do [such things] all that do injustice (עַוָּל=עֹשֵׂה עָוֶל) are an abomination (תועבה) unto the Lord thy God”. The abomination (תועבה), on its part, is called by Scripture חרם and שקץ, as it is said (Deuteronomy 7:26) "Neither shalt thou bring an abomination (תועבה) into thine house, lest thou be a doomed thing (חרם) like it; but thou shall regard it as שקץ.