Kabbalah Ulangan 16:18: Sha'arei Orah

I now will give you hints about the great mystery contained in this verse. Know that when the Upper Court of Justice (Beit Din Shel Ma’alah) issues justice-Mishpat-משפט upon the creatures, HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת concludes the judgement through the quality of Lordship-Adona”y-אדנ״י. This is the secret of the verse,⁶⁵Deuteronomy 16:18 “Judges-Shoftim-שופטים and officers-Shotrim-שוטרים shall you appoint in all your cities… and they shall judge the people with righteous justice-Mishpat Tzedek-משפט צדק.” Another verse states,⁶⁶Ezekiel 1:19 “When the Chayot-Animal Angels would go, the Ophanim-Cycle Angels would go with them.” The secret of the Chayot-Animal Angels is the matter of Judges-Shoftim-שופטים, and the secret of the Ophanim-Cycle Angels is the matter of officers-Shotrim-שוטרים.” However, judgement is concluded in righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, which is the matter of the Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י.

To explain, the courts of Law that judge the nations of the world, do not judge them with kindness (Chessed) and mercy (Rachamim), but rather, in fairness, that is, in a manner of measure for measure. There is no forgiveness for their sins and iniquities. Rather, they are literally judged measure for measure, whereas, the quality of “righteousness-Tzedek-צדק” is unique to the Court of the Jewish People, as it states,¹⁵¹Deuteronomy 16:18 – ״שפטים ושטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך אשר יהו״ה אלהי״ך נתן לשבטיך ושפטו את-העם משפט-צדק.” “Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities, that HaShem-יהו״ה your God, gives you for your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous justice-Mishpat Tzedek-משפט צדק.”

This being so, contemplate this and behold these awesome wonders, and you will see that the quality of justice-Mishpat-משפט is mercy-Rachamim, and the quality of righteousness-Tzedek-צדק is pure judgment-Din, unless justice-Mishpat-משפט is intermingled with it. Thus, in the Torah portion of Judges-Shoftim-שופטים the verse states,⁵²⁵Deuteronomy 16:20 “Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, righteousness-Tzedek-צדק shall you pursue,” and it states,⁵²⁶Deuteronomy 16:18 “And you shall judge the people with righteous judgment-Mishpat Tzedek-משפט צדק.”