What are the connotations of "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof"?
Rashi and Ramban #1 (citing the Sifri): It means that it is incumbent upon the litigants to seek out the best available Beis-Din 1 for litigation, 2 and after the wisest Chachamim from whom to learn.
Seforno: It means, that, when appointing the Dayanim, one should pick those who are able to judge righteously, over and above the other attributes that a judge ought to posses - such as good health and wealth. 3
Ramban #2: To teach us that the Dayanim should judge the people righteously;
Ramban #3 (citing the Ibn Ezra #1): To teach us that the litigants should always tell the truth, irrespective of whether they will gain or lose by it.
Ramban #4 (citing the Ibn Ezra #2): It implies that they should [pursue righteous judgment] time after time.
Ramban #5 (citing the Ibn Ezra #3): The Torah writes it twice for the sake of emphasis (to stimulate people to fulfill it).
Ramban #6 (according to Kabalah): 'Pursue righteousness in your Batei-Din in order to live in Olam ha'Ba, 4 and you will inherit the first Tzedek, which is synonymous with Eretz Yisrael.
Targum Yonasan and Sanhedrin, 32b: One refers to judging according to the Halachah, the other, to judging peacefully - by going for compromise. 5
Rabeinu Bachye: To teach us that a person should be righteous both in deed and in word.
Kol Eliyahu: The Midrash states that this is the source for Beis-Din to judge on Monday and Thursday - since. Tzedek 6 (Jupiter) is the first constellation to appear in the sky on Monday (on Sunday night), and on Thursday morning.
Yerushlmi Sanhedrin, 5:2: To teach us that it is a Mitzvah to search for merits in order to exempt the defendent from Misah. 7
Oznayim la'Torah: One refers to the Dayan, the other, to the Shoter.
Ramban (citing Sanhedrin, 32b): 'After R. Yochanan ben Zakai to Yavneh; after Rebbi to Beis She'arim'.
See Sifsei Chachamim. See also Torah Temimah, note 85.
Seforno: As Hashem told Shmuel in Shmuel 1, 16:7 "Don't look at his appearance and at his tall stature!"
Ramban: Which is synonymous with the great hidden light.
See Na'ar Yonasan. Sanhedrin, 32b: In a case where two ships meet head-on, and should they both try to pass each other, they will both sink - then if one of them is laden and the other one is not, or one of them is far from home and the other one, close, then the former takes priority. Otherwise, one makes a Pesharah between them - and the one that receives right of way compensates the other one financially. See Torah Temimah, who elaborates at length.
It is one of the Kochvei Leches (sun, moon and the five closest planets). Each 'dominates' for an hour at a time, according to a rotation described in Pirkei d'R. Eliezer 5.
See Torah Temimah, note 86.
How will we reconcile the current Pasuk "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" with the Pasuk in Kedoshim Vayikra, 19:16 "be'Tzedek Tishpot Amisecha" ? which only writes "be'Tzedek" once?
The current Pasuk is referring specifically to a case that involves the death-penalty. Refer to 16:20:1.1:10.
Sanhedrin, 3b: Whereas the Pasuk in Kedoshim is discussing a regular case, the current Pasuk is discussing a Din Merumah - where the Dayanim sense that something is not right with the litigants' testimony, and which therefore requires extra effort to seek the truth. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 83
What is the significance of the juxtaposition of "Lema'an Tichyeh Ve'yarashta es ha'Aretz" to "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof"?
Rashi (citing the Sifri): The appointment of good Dayanim 1 is reason enough to grant Yisrael life and to settle them in their land.
Seforno: Correct judgment is particularly important in Eretz Yisrael, since perversion of justice prevents us from inheriting it. 2
Oznayim la'Torah (citing the Tanchuma): On the merit of a good judicial system we will merit life in the world to come.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
Seforno: As the Navi writes in Yeshayah, 57:17 ""ba'Avon Bitz'o Katzafti".
