Deuteronomy 1:9-18

The Appointment of Judges

⁹ At that time I said to you, I am not able to undertake the care of you by myself; ¹⁰ The Lord your God has given you increase, and now you are like the stars of heaven in number. ¹¹ May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times greater in number than you are, and give you his blessing as he has said! ¹² How is it possible for me by myself to be responsible for you, and undertake the weight of all your troubles and your arguments? ¹³ Take for yourselves men who are wise, far-seeing, and respected among you, from your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. ¹⁴ And you made answer and said to me, It is good for us to do as you say. ¹⁵ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men and respected, and made them rulers over you, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds and captains of fifties and captains of tens, and overseers of your tribes. ¹⁶ And at that time I gave orders to your judges, saying, Let all questions between your brothers come before you for hearing, and give decisions uprightly between a man and his brother or one from another nation who is with him. ¹⁷ In judging, do not let a man's position have any weight with you; give hearing equally to small and great; have no fear of any man, for it is God who is judge: and any cause in which you are not able to give a decision, you are to put before me and I will give it a hearing. ¹⁸ And at that time I gave you all the orders which you were to do.