10 The lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars!
11 And may the lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised!
12 But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering?
13 Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’
14 “Then you responded, ‘Your plan is a good one.’
15 So I took the wise and respected men you had selected from your tribes and appointed them to serve as judges and officials over you. Some were responsible for a thousand people, some for a hundred, some for fifty, and some for ten.
16 “At that time I instructed the judges, ‘You must hear the cases of your fellow Israelites and the foreigners living among you. Be perfectly fair in your decisions