Exodus 18:13-27

And it came to pass on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood by Moses from the morning to the evening. And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do to the people? Why do you sit by yourself alone, and all the people stand by you from morning to evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a matter, they come to me; and I judge between one and another, and I make them know the statutes and laws of God.” And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. You will certainly wear away, both you, and this people who are with you; for this thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it yourself alone. Listen now to my voice, I will give you counsel, and God shall be with you; Represent the people before God, that you may bring the causes to God; And you shall teach them ordinances and laws, and shall show them the way where they must walk, and the work that they must do. And you shall choose out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens; And let them judge the people at all seasons; and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge; so it shall be easier for yourself, and they shall bear the burden with you. If you shall do this thing and God command you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all his people shall also go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And Moses chose able men from all Israel, and made them chiefs over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons; the difficult causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way to his own land. [JPS translation]