Matthew Poole and continuators on Deuteronomy 1:17

17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment, but ye shall hear the small as well as the great, ye shall not be afraid of the face of man: for the judgment is Gods : and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Heb. Not know, or acknowledge Faces, i. e. Not give sentence according to the outward qualities of the person, as he is poor or rich, your Friend or Enemy, but purely according to the merits of the cause. For which reason some of the Grecian Law-givers ordered that the Judges should give sentence in the dark wherethey could not see mens faces. See the same or like phrase. Deut. 10. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 6, 7. Iob 13. 8. Iam. 2 1, 9.

Persons of the meanest rank.

i. e. It is passed in the name of God, and by commission from him, by you as representing his person, and doing his work, who therefore will own and defend you therein against all your Enemies, and to whom you must give an exact account.

Marginal references: Lev. 19. 15. chap 16. 19. 1 Sam. 16. [illegible: 1+ letters]. Prov. 24. 23.; Heb. acknowledge faces.