Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 1:13
Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
13. Take you ] Heb. Give yourselves: Jos 18:4. The people themselves are to elect as in Deu 16:18, consistently with the emphasis, so frequent in D, on the judicial responsibilities of the whole people. In E, Exo 18:25 (cp. Num 11:16), Moses chooses.
wise men, and understanding, and known ] With the LXX some take the last term as synonymous with the others; either reading as in the Heb. the pass. part. experienced, or the act. Part. knowing. The pass. part. is perhaps the better, but as meaning known: men reputed for their judicial gifts, as among the Arabs to-day. While here the emphasis is laid on intellectual gifts, which, however, in D always include the moral; E, Exo 18:21, more definitely expresses the latter: men of power (Dri. capable, worthy), fearing God, men of troth, hating unjust gain.
according to your tribes ] E, Exo 18:21; Exo 18:25: out of, all the people, all Israel. E and D use shebet for tribe, but P’s usual term is maah.
make them heads over you ] Rather, set them as your chiefs.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. Take you wise men] chachamim, such as had gained knowledge by great labour and study. Understanding nebonim, persons of discernment, judicious men. Known, yeduim, persons practised in the operations of nature, capable of performing curious and important works.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Persons of knowledge, wisdom, and experience, men famous, and had in reputation, for ability and integrity; for to such they would more readily submit.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes,…. Not only whose persons were well known, but their characters and qualifications, for their probity and integrity, for their wisdom and prudence in the management of affairs, for their skill and knowledge in things divine and human, civil and religious, and for their capacity in judging and determining matters in difference; see
Ex 18:21
and I will make them rulers over you; the people were allowed to choose their own officers, whom they were to bring to Moses, and present before him, to be invested with their office. A like method was taken in the choice and constitution of deacons in the Christian church, when the secular affairs of it lay too heavy upon the apostles, Ac 6:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. Take you wise men. Hence it more plainly appears that those who were to preside in judgment were not appointed only by the will of Moses, but. elected by the votes of the people. And this is the most desirable kind c f liberty, that we should not be compelled to obey every’ person who may be tyrannically put over our heads; but which allows of election, so that no one should rule except he be approved of by us. And this is further confirmed in the next verse, wherein Moses recounts that he awaited the consent of the people, and that nothing was attempted which did not please them all. Again, he does not here mention the same virtues as in Exo 18:0; but only distinguishes the judges by three qualifications, viz., that they should be wise, and understanding, and experienced, all of which are comprised under one head, that they should possess acuteness of intellect and prudence, confirmed by experience and practice; for neither the greatest probity nor diligence would be sufficient; for the office of ruler, apart from skill and sagacity. (204) But the first epithet which the Hebrews often apply in a bad sense to the crafty and deceitful, here means acute and perspicacious. The second I explain as pointing out prudent persons, endued with sound judgment and discretion. (205) The third may be taken either actively or passively; some therefore translate it known or tried; but here the active sense is most suitable. Thus, then, experience and acquaintance with business is required in judges; because none but the practiced are competent for the management of business.
(204) חכמים, wise men. C. had already said in his Commentary on Exo 1:10, that the Hebrews often used this epithet in an ill sense, but the assertion is scarcely tenable. — W
(205) ידעים. The third characteristic can only be said to be ambiguous by such as reject the authority of the Hebrew points. The translators who admit that authority must hold this participle to be passive: and therefore our A. V. renders the clause, known among your tribes. — W
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Ver. 13. Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes Houbigant renders this, Take from among your tribes, men endued with wisdom, understanding, and experience: wise men, says he, signifies those who had obtained knowledge by study and labour, as Moses was learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians; understanding men, those who excelled in genius; skilful men, those who had learned many things by experience. Known among your tribes, he observes, is an erroneous translation, into which many have been led by the authority of Buxtorf the father.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
All these verses refer to that period in Israel’s history, in which at the advice of Jethro, and by the divine permission, Moses took into the administration of justice with himself, certain of the elders of Israel. See Exo 18:13-26 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew, plural of ‘ish or ‘enosh
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Take: Heb. Give, Exo 18:21, Num 11:16, Num 11:17, Act 1:21-23, Act 6:2-6
Reciprocal: Gen 41:33 – look out Num 30:1 – General Mic 3:1 – Is it Act 6:3 – look
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:13 Take you wise men, and understanding, and {k} known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
(k) Whose godliness and uprightness is known.