Deuteronomy 1:9-18

9“I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘1I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. 10The Lord your God has 2multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number. 11May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, 3just as He has 4promised you! 12How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife? 1356Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14You answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’ 15So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and 7appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and 8of hundreds, 9of fifties and 10of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16“Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your 11fellow countrymen, and 12judge righteously between a man and his 13fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him. 1714You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall 15not fear 16man, for the judgment is God’s. 17The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 1818I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.