Parshas Shoftim underscores the vital role that law and order plays in Jewish life.

The portion opens with the commandment to establish a judicial system in the Land of Israel.  Every city is to have courts and judges, as well as officers to enforce the decisions of the court.  A judge must treat all of the litigants equally and is not permitted to accept bribes or gifts from any of them.  Also, two witnesses are necessary to establish a case in court.  One witness or circumstantial evidence is not sufficient.

If the Jews wish to appoint a king, they must choose someone who is a Jew.  He can live a royal lifestyle as befits a ruler, but he may not live a life of excess.  He is to carry a Torah scroll wherever he goes as a preventive measure, to keep him on the “straight and narrow.”

The Torah then discusses foreign policy.  The Jews are commanded always to offer the enemy the possibility of making peace.  However, if war becomes necessary, the Jewish People are instructed not to fear the enemy and to trust in G-d’s power.  The parsha lists categories of people who are exempt from military service.  Interestingly, the Jews are not permitted to destroy good things for the sake of the war effort; fruit trees, for example, may not be cut down for their wood.

The portion concludes with the case of a corpse that is found between two cities.  The city nearest the corpse is considered partially responsible for the death; had it provided an escort, the murder might have been prevented.  The residents must bring an eglah arufah (axed heifer) as a sacrifice to atone for their negligence.