Deuteronomy 1:13

13 Take you wise men of understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.'

Deuteronomy 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:13

Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among your
tribes
Not only whose persons were well known, but their characters and qualifications, for their probity and integrity, for their wisdom and prudence in the management of affairs, for their skill and knowledge in things divine and human, civil and religious, and for their capacity in judging and determining matters in difference; see ( Exodus 18:21 )

and I will make them rulers over you;
the people were allowed to choose their own officers, whom they were to bring to Moses, and present before him, to be invested with their office. A like method was taken in the choice and constitution of deacons in the Christian church, when the secular affairs of it lay too heavy upon the apostles, ( Acts 6:3 ) .

Deuteronomy 1:13 In-Context

11 (The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you as He hath promised you!)

12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance and your burden and your strife?

13 Take you wise men of understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.'

14 And ye answered me and said, `The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.'

15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.