9 At that time I said to you, “I cannot carry the burden for you alone.
10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
11 May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times over and bless you as He has promised.
12 But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?
13 Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
14 And you answered me and said, “What you propose to do is good.”
15 So 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.
16 At 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.
17 Show 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.”
18 And at that time I commanded you all the things you were to do.