Comments by "Laurence Fraser" (@laurencefraser) on "Samson en Delila - Oude Testamentmythologie - Extra Mythologie - # 2" video.

  1. More commonly, a king or other noble, as the highest authority in the land (by conquest or birth) would judge disputes or criminals. As law codes got more complicated, populations larger, etc. the ruler delegated more tasks, including such legal matters. It is noteable that in Britain (and not that many years ago, most of the Commonwealth), the highest "court of appeal" is, on paper, directly to the monarch in their role as the highest judge in the land. (In practice even this is deligated to the privy council, but that is in their role as the Queen's personal advisors and lieutenants acting on her behalf at her discretion) Not as a direct part of the judiciary. Well... Again, on paper. So to speak). Well, that and republics without a single head of state needed someone (or a group of someones) to do the same job. Biblical judges... Were basically that for a nation who's government was "tribal and theocratic bits here and there, and they have a code of laws, but mostly anarchy" at the time. Which in practice meant they were the leadership that was to be had when a military campaign or revolt was in order.
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