Deuteronomy 1:15

15 "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and ^[a]appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and ^[b]of hundreds, ^[c]of fifties and ^[d]of tens, and officers for your tribes.

Deuteronomy 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known
The principal persons among them, that were remarkable and well known for their wisdom and understanding, whom the people presented to him:

and made them heads over you;
rulers of them, as follows:

captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over
fifties, and captains over tens;
see ( Exodus 18:21-25 )

and officers among your tribes;
which Jarchi interprets of such that bind malefactors and scourge them, according to the decree of the judges, even the executioners of justice; and so the Jews commonly understand them to be, though some have thought they were judges also.

Deuteronomy 1:15 In-Context

13 'Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.'

14 "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 experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 "Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him.

17 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.'

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "gave"
• [b]. Lit "leaders of"
• [c]. Lit "leaders of"
• [d]. Lit "leaders of"