Deuteronomy 1:15

15 So I took the chiefs of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them chiefs ^[a] over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers ^[b] for your tribes.

Deuteronomy 1:15 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known
The principal persons among them, that were remarkable and well known for their wisdom and understanding, whom the people presented to him:

and made them heads over you;
rulers of them, as follows:

captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over
fifties, and captains over tens;
see ( Exodus 18:21-25 )

and officers among your tribes;
which Jarchi interprets of such that bind malefactors and scourge them, according to the decree of the judges, even the executioners of justice; and so the Jews commonly understand them to be, though some have thought they were judges also.

Deuteronomy 1:15 In-Context

13 Provide you wise and understanding and known men, according to your tribes, that I may make them your chiefs.

14 And ye answered me, and said, The thing that thou hast spoken is good [for us] to do.

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

16 And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and him also that sojourneth with him.

17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment: ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's; and the matter that is too hard for you shall ye bring to me, that I may hear it.

Footnotes

• [a]. 'Head,' as Ex. 6.14.
• [b]. These were evidently civil officers constantly associated with 'judges,' as chs. 16.18; 20.9, Num. 11.16, Josh. 8.33, &c.