⁸ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,^(A) priests^(B) and heads of Israelite families to administer^(C) the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.

⁸ With them were certain Levites^(A)—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law^(B) of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

⁴ David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge^(A) of the work^(B) of the temple of the Lord and six thousand are to be officials and judges.^(C)

25 When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges^(A) will decide the case,^(B) acquitting^(C) the innocent and condemning the guilty.^(D)

⁵ The Levitical priests shall step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings^(A) in the name of the Lord and to decide all cases of dispute and assault.^(B)

Law Courts

⁸ If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge^(A)—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults^(B)—take them to the place the Lord your God will choose.^{(C) 9} Go to the Levitical^(D) priests and to the judge^(E) who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.^{(F) 10} You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. ¹¹ Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.^{(G) 12} Anyone who shows contempt^(H) for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering^(I) there to the Lord your God is to be put to death.^(J) You must purge the evil from Israel.^{(K) 13} All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again.^(L)

¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.^(A) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes^(B) to him. ²⁰ Teach them his decrees and instructions,^(C) and show them the way they are to live^(D) and how they are to behave.^{(E) 21} But select capable men^(F) from all the people—men who fear^(G) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain^(H)—and appoint them as officials^(I) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case^(J) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share^(K) it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵ He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders^(L) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.^{(M) 26} They served as judges^(N) for the people at all times. The difficult cases^(O) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.^(P)