Exodus 18:25

Moses chose able men. Verses 24-26 give the impression that Moses carried out Jethro’s advice immediately. Deuteronomy 1:9—15 indicates that Moses did not actually arrange for the selection of these judges until after the law was given at Sinai. Moses apparently awaited divine approval of the plan. Execution of the plan is related here, pursuant to Moses’ habit of dealing with subjects topically rather than chronologically. To fail to keep this literary characteristic of Moses in mind may lead to erroneous conclusions (see on Ex. 16:33, 35). It appears from Deut. 1:13 that instead of selecting the men himself Moses directed their nomination by the people, after which he invested them with the authority of their office. Made them heads. From the time of their appointment the “rulers” were not merely judges but “heads” over their respective companies, with authority over them on the march, in the camp, and on the battlefield (see Num. 31:14). Both civil and military functions seem to have been combined.