Exodus 18:13-27

13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me 1to inquire of God. 16When they have a 23dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 184You will surely wear out, both yourself and 5these people who are with you, for the 6task is too heavy for you; 7you cannot do it alone. 19Now listen to 8me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 9You be the people’s representative before God, and you 10bring the 11disputes to God, 2012then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them 13the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21Furthermore, you shall 14select out of all the people 15able men 16who fear God, men of truth, those who 17hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, 18of hundreds, 19of fifties and 20of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be 21that every major 22dispute they will bring to you, but every minor 23dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and 24they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 25endure, and all 26these people also will go to 27their place in peace.”

24So Moses listened 28to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose 29able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 30of hundreds, 31of fifties and 32of tens. 26They judged the people at all times; 33the difficult 34dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor 35dispute they themselves would judge. 27Then Moses 3637bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.