Deut. 16-18: Judges, Courts, Diviners, Soothsayers and Signs

Dr. Michael Schulman recorded this talk on August 29, 20’25. He provided it for an on-line meeting of leaders of indigenous communities of the Americas. In addition, leaders of several other religious also attended the program.

The talk focuses on some lessons for Gentiles in the Torah portion of Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9). It begins with the verse, “Judges and officers you shall make for yourselves in all of your gates…” Of course, this Torah portion includes many positive and negative Jewish commandments. However, we also find that it has application to many details within the Noahide commandment to establish courts of law.

In chapter 18, before teaching about false prophets and true prophets, we learn about the the prohibition of divination and soothsaying. Those practices are forbidden to Gentiles as well, as offshoots of the prohibition of idolatry. Instead of trying to predict the future, Gentiles should be “wholehearted” with faith and trust in G-d.

However, does this mean that G-d doesn’t provide signs for us to watch for? On the contrary, the rainbow is a primary example of a sign from G-d.