Leaders Appointed

⁹ I spoke to you at that time, saying, “I am not able to bear you by myself. ¹⁰ The Lord your God has multiplied you, and surely you are this day as numerous as the stars of heaven. ¹¹ May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times more numerous and bless you, just as He has promised you! ¹² How can I myself bear your load and your burden and your strife? ¹³ Choose wise, discerning, and knowing men, among your tribes, and I will appoint them as leaders over you.”

¹⁴ You answered me, and said, “The thing which you have said is good for us to do.”

¹⁵ So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and well-known men, and appointed them as leaders over you, leaders over thousands, and leaders over hundreds, and leaders over fifties, and leaders over tens, and officers among your tribes. ¹⁶ I charged your judges at that time, saying, “Hear the issues between your countrymen, and judge righteously between every man and his fellow countryman, and the foreigner that is with him. ¹⁷ You shall not show partiality in judgment, but you shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring it to me, and I will hear it.” ¹⁸ At that time, I commanded you all the things you should do.