{"id":75637,"date":"2020-06-07T13:31:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-07T10:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=75637"},"modified":"2020-06-07T13:31:26","modified_gmt":"2020-06-07T10:31:26","slug":"all-judgments-are-weighty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/all-judgments-are-weighty\/","title":{"rendered":"All Judgments are Weighty"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"75637","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":66417,"related_cahpter":"497","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"And must uphold justice from the smallest to the largest\u00a0\r\n\r\n","content":"

In Chapter 45, God continues instructing Ezekiel about the laws of the rebuilt Temple. In verse 9, God\u2019s attention turns to the princes of Israel, Israel\u2019s political leaders. God commands: \u201cEnough, princes of Israel! Make an end to lawlessness and rapine, and do what is right and just! Put a stop to your evictions of My people\u2014declares the Lord God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately following this command, God describes proper weights and measures. In verse 10, God instructs, \u201cHave honest balances, an honest <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em>, and an honest <\/span>bath<\/span><\/em>.\u201d NJPS helpfully explains that these are both measurements of volume, with the <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em> used for dry goods and the <\/span>bath<\/span><\/em> for liquid goods. Verse 12 describes proper units of weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is not the first instance where the Bible is concerned with weights and measures. In Leviticus 19:35-36, God commands Israel that \u201cYou shall not falsify measures of length, weight, or capacity. You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em>, and an honest <\/span>hin<\/span><\/em>. I the LORD am your God who freed you from the land of Egypt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it so important that the people of Israel and especially its leaders have honest instruments of measurement? At first glance it might seem that a missing ounce (or gram or two) would not make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.<\/span><\/p>\n

One approach to answering this question comes from Rashi\u2019s comment on the beginning of Leviticus 19:35 (more literally translated as \u201cyou shall not do unrighteousness in judgement\u201d). Rashi draws on Sifra to note that the beginning of the verse may not simply refer to falsifying measures, but to executing unfair judgments more broadly (cf Lev 19:15).<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfair judgments often have a tendency to favor the rich over the poor. As Israel\u2019s political leaders, the princes have a responsibility to make sure that their measures are honest so that they do not defraud the poor, whether intentionally or by accident. If they are careless in matters of small importance, they may also be careless in matters of greater importance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having honest measures is not only important for taking care of the poor in society. In our chapter in Ezekiel, verses 13-16 describe the exact measurements required in temple sacrifices. If Israel\u2019s political leaders do not have honest measures, they will not only defraud the poor, but also God.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having honest measures is not simply about apportioning a precise quantity of solids and liquids, but instead about upholding the moral fabric of society. A leader who does not act justly brings negative consequences not only upon themselves, but upon all of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":75638,"id":75638,"title":"ez45-weights","filename":"ez45-weights.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/all-judgments-are-weighty\/ez45-weights\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"ez45-weights","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":75637,"date":"2020-06-07 10:31:12","modified":"2020-06-07 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