Deuteronomy 1:13

13 Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads 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 Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!

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

13 Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.

14 You answered me, and said, The thing which you have spoken is good [for us] to do.

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