Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 18:21

"Moreover thou shalt provide 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, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:" — Exodus 18:21 (ASV)

Provide out of all the people able men.—This was the gist of Jethro’s advice. It seems somewhat surprising that it should have been needed. In Egypt, as in all other settled governments, while the king was the fountain of justice, it was customary for him to delegate the duty of hearing causes to officials of different ranks, who decided in this or that class of complaints. In Arabia, a similar practice no doubt prevailed.

Jethro himself had his subordinates, the head men of the various clans or families, who discharged judicial functions in “small matters,” and thereby greatly lightened the burden which would otherwise have rested upon his shoulders. His advice to Moses was simply that he should adopt this generally established system—one which belongs to a very early period in the history of nations.

Jethro’s definition of “able men”—men, i.e., fitted to exercise the judicial office—is interesting. He requires them to be:

1. God-fearing,
2. truthful, and
3. men of integrity.

The second and third requirements would commend themselves to men of all times and countries. The first would generally be deemed superfluous. But it really lies at the root of all excellence of character, and is the point of greatest importance.

Rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds.—An organization of the entire people on a decimal system is implied in the arrangement suggested. Such an organization likely existed at the same time in connection with the march and the encamping. (See the Comment on Exodus 13:18.) Jethro thought that it might be utilized for judicial purposes. One man out of ten might be competent to judge in “small matters.” If either party were dissatisfied, there might be an appeal to the “ruler of fifty”—from him to the “ruler of a hundred,” and then to the “ruler of a thousand.” In all ordinary disputes this would suffice, and the contest would not require to be carried further.