“Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.”
Choose wise and understanding and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads -- the criteria (wisdom, understanding, experience) reflect competence grounded in both intellect and tested judgment. The phrase 'from your tribes' ensures local knowledge and accountability. This decentralization of authority establishes a principle later developed in the appointment of kings and priests: authority must be distributed to avoid tyranny.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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