12. But I cannot take care of your problems, your troubles, and your arguments by myself.
13. So choose some men from each tribe—wise men who have understanding and experience—and I will make them leaders over you.”
14. And you said, “That’s a good thing to do.”
15. So I took the wise and experienced leaders of your tribes, and I made them your leaders. I appointed commanders over a thousand people, over a hundred people, over fifty people, and over ten people and made them officers over your tribes.
16. Then I told your leaders, “Listen to the arguments between your people. Judge fairly between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner.
17. When you judge, be fair to everyone; don’t act as if one person is more important than another, and don’t be afraid of anyone, because your decision comes from God. Bring the hard cases to me, and I will judge them.”
18. At that time I told you everything you must do.
19. Then, as the Lord our God commanded us, we left Mount Sinai and went toward the mountain country of the Amorite people. We went through that large and terrible desert you saw, and then we came to Kadesh Barnea.
20. I said to you, “You have now come to the mountain country of the Amorites, to the land the Lord our God will give us.
21. Look, here it is! Go up and take it. The Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you to do this, so don’t be afraid and don’t worry.”
22. Then all of you came to me and said, “Let’s send men before us to spy out the land. They can come back and tell us about the way we should go and the cities we will find.”
23. I thought that was a good idea, so I chose twelve of your men, one for each tribe.