Albert Barnes Commentary Exodus 23:6-9

"Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to thy poor in his cause. Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous. And a sojourner shalt thou not oppress: for ye know the heart of a sojourner, seeing ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt." — Exodus 23:6-9 (ASV)

Four precepts evidently addressed to those in authority as judges:

1. To do justice to the poor. Comparing Exodus 23:6, and Exodus 23:6 with Exodus 23:3, it was the judge's responsibility to defend the poor against the oppression of the rich, and the witness's responsibility to take care lest his feelings of natural pity should tempt him to falsify evidence.

2. To be cautious about inflicting capital punishment on one whose guilt was not clearly proved. A doubtful case was instead to be left to God Himself, who would not justify the wicked, nor allow him to go unpunished though he might be acquitted by an earthly tribunal (Exodus 23:7).

3. To take no bribe or present which might in any way pervert judgment (Exodus 23:8); compare Numbers 16:15; 1 Samuel 12:3; Acts 26:26.

4. To vindicate the rights of the stranger (Exodus 23:9) — rather, the foreigner (Exodus 20:10 note). This verse is a repetition of Exodus 22:21, but the precept is there addressed to the people at large, while it is here addressed to the judges in reference to their official duties. The caution was perpetually necessary. Compare Ezekiel 22:7; Malachi 3:5. The word translated 'heart' is more strictly 'soul,' and would be better represented here by feelings.