Leaders and Judges Appointed

Deuteronomy 1:9–18 is the movement “Leaders and Judges Appointed.” Read it inside Moses’ final covenant instruction to Israel on the eastern side of the Jordan as the people prepare for life in the land. The section opens with: “And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:” It closes with: “And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.”

Scripture also places this passage inside a wider canonical network. Deuteronomy retells Moses telling Israel that he could not bear the people alone and recounts the appointment of wise, respected leaders to share judicial responsibility. This strongly recalls the administrative solution enacted after Jethro’s counsel in Exodus 18. Israel’s judges were commanded to judge righteously without partiality or fear. The parable deliberately gives the opposite sort of judge.