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Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New English Translation

9 I also said to you at that time, “I am no longer able to sustain you by myself. 10 The Lord your God has increased your population[a] to the point that you are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky.[b] 11 Indeed, may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you[c] just as he said he would! 12 But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife? 13 Select wise and practical[d] men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.” 14 You replied to me that what I had said to you was good. 15 So I chose[e] as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials. 16 I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they[f] should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens[g] and judge fairly,[h] whether between one person and a native Israelite[i] or a resident foreigner.[j] 17 They[k] must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly[l] and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.

Instructions at Kadesh Barnea

18 So I instructed you at that time regarding everything you should do.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 1:10 tn Heb “multiplied you.”
  2. Deuteronomy 1:10 tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
  3. Deuteronomy 1:11 tn Heb “may he bless you.”
  4. Deuteronomy 1:13 tn The Hebrew verb נְבֹנִים (nevonim, from בִּין [bin]) is a Niphal referring to skill or intelligence (see T. Fretheim, NIDOTTE 1:652-53).
  5. Deuteronomy 1:15 tn Or “selected”; Heb “took.”
  6. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Or “you.” A number of English versions treat the remainder of this verse and v. 17 as direct discourse rather than indirect discourse (cf. KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
  7. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Heb “brothers.” The term “brothers” could, in English, be understood to refer to siblings, so “fellow citizens” has been used in the translation.
  8. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn The Hebrew word צֶדֶק (tsedeq, “fairly”) carries the basic idea of conformity to a norm of expected behavior or character, one established by God himself. Fair judgment adheres strictly to that norm or standard (see D. Reimer, NIDOTTE 3:750).
  9. Deuteronomy 1:16 tn Heb “between a man and his brother.” The first use of “brother” in this verse refers broadly to fellow citizens. This second use is narrower, being in opposition to the “resident foreigner.” The גֵּר (ger) “resident foreigner” was not simply a foreigner (Hebrew נֵכָר; nekar) but was essentially a naturalized citizen and had equal protection under the law. This is one of the verses designed to ensure that equal treatment (see also Deut 10:16-19; 16:18-20; Exod 12:49; Num 15:16, 29).
  10. Deuteronomy 1:16 sn On the Hebrew ger (גֵּר) “resident foreigner,” see notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11.
  11. Deuteronomy 1:17 tn Heb “you,” and throughout the verse (cf. NASB, NRSV).
  12. Deuteronomy 1:17 tn Heb “the small,” but referring to social status, not physical stature.
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Deuteronomy 1:9-18
New American Standard Bible

9 “And I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘(A)I am not able to endure you alone. 10 The Lord your God has (B)multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number. 11 May the Lord, the God of your fathers increase you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you, (C)just as He has [a]promised you! 12 How can I alone endure the burden and weight of you and your strife? 13 (D)Obtain for yourselves men who are wise, discerning, and informed from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14 And you answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and informed men, and [b]appointed them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, [c]hundreds, [d]fifties, and [e]tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 “Then I ordered your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen and (E)judge righteously between a person and his fellow countryman, or the stranger who is with him. 17 (F)You are not to [f]show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You are (G)not to be afraid of any person, for the judgment is God’s. (H)The case that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 At that time (I)I commanded you all the things that you were to do.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 1:11 Lit spoken to
  2. Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit gave them as
  3. Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
  4. Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
  5. Deuteronomy 1:15 Lit commanders of
  6. Deuteronomy 1:17 Lit recognize faces
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