Exodus 18:19–26

¹⁹Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to God.^{* 20}Teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.^{* 21}You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.^{* 22}Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.^{* 23}If you do this and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their homes in peace.”

²⁴So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. ²⁵Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.^{* 26}And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves.^*