Deuteronomy 1:15

So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites on the plains of Moab, recounting the administrative structure he established prior to their entry into the Promised Land.

The words — וָ/אֶקַּ֞ח (va./'e.Kach) translates as "and I took," and וָ/אֶתֵּ֥ן (va./'e.Ten) translates as "and I appointed."

The thread — This delegation of authority mirrors the selection of capable leaders in Exodus 18:25 and aligns with the later command to place judges and officials in every town in Deuteronomy 16:18.

Why it lands — The verse records the factual distribution of command over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to manage the tribes, requiring readers to note how structured leadership operates as a practical response to communal scale.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Exodus 18:25 So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Numbers 31:14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle.
1 Samuel 8:12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
1 Samuel 17:18 Take also these ten portions of cheese to the commander of their unit. Check on the welfare of your brothers and bring back an assurance from them.
1 Samuel 22:7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?