Deuteronomy 1:9 - Meaning and Application

Moses here reminds the people of the good order of their government, an order that could have kept them safe and at peace if they had not ruined it themselves. When God gave them good laws, he also entrusted good men with carrying them out. This was a sign of God’s kindness to them, and also of Moses’ care for them. He mentions it here, it seems, to show that he truly wanted their good, so that they would be ready to hear what he was about to say.

In this part of his account, Moses shows, first, that he rejoiced greatly in their growing numbers. He admits that God kept his promise to Abraham, when he said, “You are as the stars of heaven for multitude” (Deuteronomy 1:10). He also prays that God would keep blessing them even more, saying, “May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times more” (Deuteronomy 1:11). A good prayer, wisely spoken, does not interrupt serious talk about God. In fact, it fits well and makes the whole speech stronger.

How wide his heart was when he asked that they might become a thousand times more than they were! We are never limited by God’s power or goodness, so our faith and hope should not be limited either. They should be as large as God’s promise, and no larger. Moses takes the shape of God’s promise as the measure of his prayer: “May the Lord bless you as he has promised you.” He could well hope for great increase, since they were already far more numerous than when they went down into Egypt about 250 years earlier.

It is worth noticing that when they were under Pharaoh, their growing numbers were envied and treated as a problem (Exodus 1:9). But now, under Moses, the same growth is welcomed and prayed for as a blessing. That should have made them ashamed of their own foolishness when they later talked about choosing a captain and going back to Egypt.

Moses also shows that he was not ambitious to keep all the honor of government for himself, as if he were an absolute king. Though he was fully fit for the work, he still wanted others to help him and share in the duty. He says, “I cannot bear you myself alone” (Deuteronomy 1:12). Government is a burden. Moses, though especially gifted for it, found it heavy on his shoulders. In fact, the best rulers often feel the weight of it most, and they are the most willing to share the work and the most careful not to take on more than they can do.

He was also unwilling to set up his own favorites or men who would secretly depend on him. Instead, he let the people choose their own judges, and he would appoint them. He says, “Take wise men, understanding men, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers” (Deuteronomy 1:13). In this, he acted in a way like the apostles later did, when they told the people to choose men to oversee the poor, and then they set them apart for the work (Acts 6:3, Acts 6:6). Moses calls for wise and understanding men whose own character would recommend them.

This nation was so new that no one could claim honor from old family rank above the others. Since they had all recently come out of slavery in Egypt, it is likely that one family was not much richer than another. So their choice had to rest on wisdom, experience, and honesty. “Choose those whose reputation is good in your tribes,” Moses says, “and I will gladly appoint them.” We should not mind if God’s work is done by other hands than ours, as long as those hands are good.

Moses also shows that he was ready to please the people in this matter. He was not looking for applause, but in a matter like this he would not act without their approval. They agreed with him and said, “The thing which you have spoken is good” (Deuteronomy 1:14). He brings this up to make their later complaining look worse, because the government they later opposed was one they had themselves accepted. Moses would have pleased them, if only they had been willing to be pleased.

He also aimed not just to satisfy them, but to do them real good. He appointed men of good character, wise men and men known to be trustworthy (Deuteronomy 1:15). He then gave them a serious charge (Deuteronomy 1:16, Deuteronomy 1:17). Anyone raised to honor must remember that they are given work to do, and that they will one day answer for it.

He charged them, first, to be careful and patient: “Hear the cases.” They were to hear both sides, hear them fully, and listen well. Nature has given us two ears, and it is foolish and shameful for a person to answer before hearing the matter. The ear of one who learns is needed for the tongue of one who teaches (Isaiah 50:4). He charged them, second, to be fair and impartial: “Judge righteously.” They were to decide according to the truth of the case, not according to the standing of the people involved.

The native-born must not be allowed to wrong the stranger, and the stranger must not be allowed to insult or take advantage of the native-born. The great must not oppress the small, and the small must not steal from or insult the great. No one’s face was to be recognized in court. Their judgments were to be free from bribes and free from bias. He charged them, third, to be firm and brave: “Do not be afraid of any man’s face.” They were not to be overawed into doing wrong, whether by the noise of the crowd or by threats from powerful men.

He also gave them a strong reason for this command: “The judgment is God’s.” They acted as God’s representatives, and so they were to judge as he would judge. If they judged wrongly, they would misrepresent him. Since the judgment belongs to God, he would protect them when they did right, and he would surely call them to account if they did wrong.

Moses further allowed that any hard cases could be brought to him, and he would be ready to hear and decide them. In this way, both the judges and the people could have peace of mind. Happy are you, O Israel, under such a leader and such an order.