Exodus 18:13-14

13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14When Mosesfather-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Exodus 18:19-26

19Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall arepresent the people before God and bbring their cases to God, 20and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know cthe way in which they must walk and dwhat they must do. 21Moreover, look for eable men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22And flet them judge the people at all times. gEvery great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will hbear the burden with you. 23If you do this, God will direct you, you will be iable to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 jMoses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26And kthey judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

Numbers 15:33-34

33And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. 34 lThey put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.

Deuteronomy 17:8-10

Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges

8If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to mthe place that the Lord your God will choose. 9 nAnd you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and othey shall declare to you the decision. 10Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the Lord will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you.
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