שְׁפִיטָה

שְׁפִיטָהf. (שָׁפַט) judging, judgeship. Snh.3b (ref. to Num. 35:24 sq.) משעת שְׁפִיטַת העדה from the time that the assembly meets for judging (from the beginning of the legal proceedings, the court consists of twenty-three). Num. R. s. 149> על שפיטת שמשון the verse (Gen. 49:16) refers to Samsons judgeship.