9 “I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘aI am not able to bear the burden of you alone.

10 ‘The Lord your God has amultiplied 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-fold more than you are and bless you, ajust as He has 1promised you!

12 ‘How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife?

13 ‘1aChoose 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 1appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and 2of hundreds, 2of fifties and 2of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 “Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your 1fellow countrymen, and ajudge righteously between a man and his 2fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him.

17 ‘aYou shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall bnot fear 1man, for the judgment is God’s. cThe case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’

18 “aI commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.