Deuteronomy 1:17 Themes and Topics

You should choose capable men from all the people. Find men who respect God. These must be men you can trust who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They must be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all-important cases to you. But they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. If you do this, as God commands, you will not wear yourself out. All these people can go home with their disputes settled. read more.
Moses took Jethro's advice and chose capable men from among all the Israelites. He appointed them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They judged the people on a permanent basis. The difficult cases were taken to Moses but they decided the smaller disputes themselves.

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you should go to the place Jehovah your God chooses. Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case. Act according to the terms of the verdict they declare to you from that place Jehovah chooses. Be careful to abide by all that they teach you. read more.
Act according to the verdict and the terms they tell you. Do not turn away from the word they declare to you. The man who acts presumptuously and does not listen to the priest or the judge will die. This way you will purge the evil from Israel. The priests and judges are there to serve Jehovah your God. Then all the people will hear and be afraid. They will not act presumptuously again.

He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah. He told the judges: Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovah's people. He will know the judgements you decide. Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes. read more.
Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem. He told them: Faithfully serve Jehovah! Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commandments, rules, or regulations derived from the law. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Jehovah. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this and you will not be guilty of anything.

Do not follow the majority to do wrong. Do not give testimony that perverts justice. Do not show partiality to a poor man at his trial.

Do not deny justice to a poor person at his trial. Do not make false accusations. Do not put an innocent person to death. I will condemn anyone who does this evil thing. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe makes the discerning blind to what is right and perverts the words of the righteous.

I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

When there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case. They justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. Verse Concepts

They judged the people on a permanent basis. The difficult cases were taken to Moses but they decided the smaller disputes themselves. Verse Concepts

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you should go to the place Jehovah your God chooses. Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case.

Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes. Verse Concepts

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil (false accuser) (Devil) is about to throw you into prison, that you may be tested. You will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful even if you must die, and I will give you the crown of life. Verse Concepts

So that with good confidence (courage) we say: Jehovah is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do to me? (Psalm 56:11) Verse Concepts

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

Jehovah made an agreement with them and gave them orders, saying: You are to have no other gods. You are not to worship them or be their servants or make them offerings. Jehovah took you out of the land of Egypt with his great power and his outstretched arm. He is your God, to whom you are to give worship and make offerings: You are to obey and do forever the law he put in writing for you. You are to have no other gods. read more.
You are to keep in memory the agreement I made with you. You are to have no other gods.

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Verse Concepts

Jehovah is with me, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me? Verse Concepts

Do not be afraid of sudden fear or trouble from the wicked when it comes. Verse Concepts

Do not say that everything these people call a conspiracy is a conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear. Do not let it terrify you! Remember that Jehovah of Hosts is holy. He is the one you should respect. He is the one you should reverence (venerate) (exalt).

Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts. Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. The moth will eat them up like a garment. The worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever! My salvation will last through all generations.

Even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. Do not fear! Do not be troubled (distressed) (intimidated)! Verse Concepts

The next day Moses settled disputes among the people. He was busy from morning till night. Jethro saw everything that Moses had to do. He asked: What is all this that you are doing for the people? Why are you doing this all alone? There are people standing here from morning till night to consult you? Moses answered: They come here to find out what God wants them to do. read more.
They bring their complaints to me. I make decisions on the basis of God's laws. Jethro replied: That is not a good way to do it. You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You cannot do it alone! Listen to the advice I give you. May God be with you! You must be the people's representative to God and bring their disagreements to him. You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings. Show them how to live and tell them what to do. You should choose capable men from all the people. Find men who respect God. These must be men you can trust who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They must be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all-important cases to you. But they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. If you do this, as God commands, you will not wear yourself out. All these people can go home with their disputes settled. Moses took Jethro's advice and chose capable men from among all the Israelites. He appointed them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They judged the people on a permanent basis. The difficult cases were taken to Moses but they decided the smaller disputes themselves.

Jehovah replied to Moses: Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as elders of the people. Bring them to me at the tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you. I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the spirit I have given and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people. You will not have to bear it alone.

Thus Moses went out and told the people what Jehovah said. He assembled seventy of the leaders and placed them around the tent. Jehovah came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit he had given to Moses and gave it to the seventy elders. When the Spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets, but not for long.

I spoke to you then and said: 'I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. Jehovah your God has increased your numbers. Today you are more numerous than the stars of heaven. Jehovah the God of your fathers will make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he promised you! read more.
How can I alone bear your encumbrance, your burden, and your strife? Take wise men with understanding, who are known among your tribes. I will make them rulers over you.' You answered me: 'The thing you speak is good for us to do.' So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

and chose capable men from among all the Israelites. He appointed them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Verse Concepts

I spoke to you then and said: 'I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. Jehovah your God has increased your numbers. Today you are more numerous than the stars of heaven. Jehovah the God of your fathers will make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he promised you! read more.
How can I alone bear your encumbrance, your burden, and your strife? Take wise men with understanding, who are known among your tribes. I will make them rulers over you.' You answered me: 'The thing you speak is good for us to do.' So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

But Jehovah said to Samuel: Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart (inner man). Verse Concepts

Do not judge according to appearance! Judge a righteous judgment. Verse Concepts

Never pervert justice. Always be impartial. Never take a bribe, because bribes blind wise people and deny justice to those who are in the right. Verse Concepts

Do not follow the majority to do wrong. Do not give testimony that perverts justice. Do not show partiality to a poor man at his trial.

Do no injustice in judgment. Do not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great. Judge your neighbor fairly. Verse Concepts

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

It is not good to accept the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. Verse Concepts

These sayings belong to the wise. It is not good to show partiality in judgment. Verse Concepts

Do not judge according to appearance! Judge a righteous judgment. Verse Concepts

I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'

Do no injustice in judgment. Do not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great. Judge your neighbor fairly. Verse Concepts

He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah. He told the judges: Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovah's people. He will know the judgements you decide. Do your work in honor of him and know that he will not allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

Do not deny justice to a poor person at his trial. Verse Concepts

The next day Moses settled disputes among the people. He was busy from morning till night. Jethro saw everything that Moses had to do. He asked: What is all this that you are doing for the people? Why are you doing this all alone? There are people standing here from morning till night to consult you? Moses answered: They come here to find out what God wants them to do. read more.
They bring their complaints to me. I make decisions on the basis of God's laws. Jethro replied: That is not a good way to do it. You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You cannot do it alone! Listen to the advice I give you. May God be with you! You must be the people's representative to God and bring their disagreements to him. You must instruct them in the laws and the teachings. Show them how to live and tell them what to do. You should choose capable men from all the people. Find men who respect God. These must be men you can trust who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They must be the ones who usually settle disagreements among the people. They should bring all-important cases to you. But they should settle all minor cases themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them help you. If you do this, as God commands, you will not wear yourself out. All these people can go home with their disputes settled. Moses took Jethro's advice and chose capable men from among all the Israelites. He appointed them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They judged the people on a permanent basis. The difficult cases were taken to Moses but they decided the smaller disputes themselves.

Jehovah replied to Moses: Assemble seventy respected men who are recognized as elders of the people. Bring them to me at the tent of my presence, and tell them to stand there beside you. I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the spirit I have given and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people. You will not have to bear it alone. Tell the people: 'Purify yourselves for tomorrow. You will have meat to eat! Jehovah has heard you whining and saying that you wished you had some meat and that you were better off in Egypt. Jehovah will now give you meat, and you will have to eat it. read more.
You will have to eat it not just for one or two days, or five, or ten, or even twenty days. You will eat it for a whole month, until it comes out of your nose, until you are sick of it. This will happen because you have rejected Jehovah who is here among you and have complained to him that you should not have left Egypt.' Moses said to Jehovah: Here I am leading six hundred thousand people, and you say that you will give them enough meat for a month? Could enough cattle and sheep even be killed to satisfy them? Are all the fish in the sea enough for them? Is there a limit to my power? Jehovah answered. You will soon see whether what I have said will happen or not! Thus Moses went out and told the people what Jehovah said. He assembled seventy of the leaders and placed them around the tent. Jehovah came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit he had given to Moses and gave it to the seventy elders. When the Spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets, but not for long. Two of the seventy elders, Eldad and Medad, stayed in the camp and did not go out to the tent. There in the camp the Spirit came on them, and they too began to shout like prophets. A young man ran out to tell Moses what Eldad and Medad were doing. Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' helper since he was a young man, spoke up and said to Moses: Stop them, sir! Moses asked him: Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all Jehovah's people were prophets and that Jehovah would put his Spirit on them! Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back to the camp.

I spoke to you then and said: 'I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. Jehovah your God has increased your numbers. Today you are more numerous than the stars of heaven. Jehovah the God of your fathers will make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he promised you! read more.
How can I alone bear your encumbrance, your burden, and your strife? Take wise men with understanding, who are known among your tribes. I will make them rulers over you.' You answered me: 'The thing you speak is good for us to do.' So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. I charged your judges to hear the cases between your countrymen and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger with him. You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' I commanded you at that time all the things you should do.

I charge you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, that you observe these [principles] without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. Verse Concepts

Do no injustice in judgment. Do not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great. Judge your neighbor fairly. Verse Concepts

You will not show partiality in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great. You will not fear man for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' Verse Concepts

These murmur, complain, and walk after their lusts, they speak arrogantly, flattering people to gain advantage. Verse Concepts

These sayings belong to the wise. It is not good to show partiality in judgment. Verse Concepts

He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. Verse Concepts

I caused you to be despised and low before all the people. You are contemptible and do not keep my ways. You show partiality when applying the law. Verse Concepts

Do not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts. Verse Concepts