Deuteronomy 1:9–18

⁹At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone. ¹⁰The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. ¹¹May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised. ¹²But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself? ¹³Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”

¹⁴And you answered me and said, “What you propose to do is good.”

¹⁵So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you — as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes.

¹⁶At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. ¹⁷Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

¹⁸And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do.