(Devarim 1:15) "And I took the heads of your tribes": I "took" them with words (of suasion). I said to them: How fortunate you are! For whom are you coming to be appointed? For the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men who are called "brothers," "friends," "the lot of His inheritance," "the flock of His grazing," and every other term of endearment.
"men, wise and known": Of the seven (qualifying) traits mentioned by Yithro to Moses, he found only three: "men," "wise," and "known." "and I made them heads over you": heads (i.e., granted precedence) in buying, in selling, in (business) dealings, in entering and in leaving — entering first and leaving last. Thus, "and I made them heads."
"officers of thousands": If there were 1,999 less one, then he (the officer of the 1,000) was made the officer (of the additional 999). "officers of hundreds": If there were (an additional) ninety-nine, he (the officer of the 100), was made their officer. And thus for the officers of fifty and the officers of ten.
"and bailiffs for your tribes": wielders of the lash, viz. (II Chronicles 19:11) "and the Levite bailiffs before you," and (Nechemiah 8:11) "and the Levites silenced all the people."
(דברים א טו-טז) וָאֶקַּח אֶת רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וגו׳, וָאֲצַוֶּה אֶת שֹׁפְטֵיכֶם, מְשַׁכְתִּים בִּדְבָרִים, אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם: אַשְׁרֵיכֶם! עַל מִי אַתֶּם בָּאִים לְהִתְמַנּוֹת? עַל בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב, בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ אַחִים וְרֵעִים, כֶּרֶם חֶמְדָּה וְנַחֲלָה, צֹאן מַרְעִית – וְכָל לְשׁוֹן חִבָּה!
(Devarim 1:15) "And I took the heads of your tribes": I "took" them with words (of suasion). I said to them: How fortunate you are! For whom are you coming to be appointed? For the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men who are called "brothers," "friends," "the lot of His inheritance," "the flock of His grazing," and every other term of endearment.
אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וִידֻעִים, זוֹ אַחַת מִשֶּׁבַע מִדּוֹת שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ יִתְרוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה. הָלַךְ וְלֹא מָצָא אֶלָּא שָׁלֹשׁ: אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וִידֻעִים.
"men, wise and known": Of the seven (qualifying) traits mentioned by Yithro to Moses, he found only three: "men," "wise," and "known." "and I made them heads over you": heads (i.e., granted precedence) in buying, in selling, in (business) dealings, in entering and in leaving — entering first and leaving last. Thus, "and I made them heads."
וָאֶתֵּן אוֹתָם רָאשִׁים עֲלֵיכֶם, שֶׁיְּהוּ מְכֻבָּדִים עֲלֵיכֶם: רָאשִׁים בְּמִקָּח, רָאשִׁים בְּמִמְכָּר, רָאשִׁים בְּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, רָאשִׁים בִּכְנִיסָה וִיצִיאָה: נִכְנָס רִאשׁוֹן וְיוֹצֵא אַחֲרוֹן. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וָאֶתֵּן אוֹתָם רָאשִׁים עֲלֵיכֶם – שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מְכֻבָּדִים עֲלֵיכֶם.
"over you": that they be honored by you.
שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ אֶלֶף תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת וְתִשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה אֵינוֹ נִתְפָּס אֶלָּא שַׂר אֶלֶף. שָׂרֵי מֵאוֹת, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ מֵאָה וְתִשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה אֵינוֹ נִתְפָּס אֶלָּא שַׂר מֵאָה. שָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ חֲמִשִּׁים וְאַרְבָּעִים וְתִשְׁעָה אֵינוֹ נִתְפָּס אֶלָּא שַׂר חֲמִשִּׁים. שָׂרֵי עֲשָׂרוֹת, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂר אֵינוֹ נִתְפָּס אֶלָּא שַׂר עֲשָׂרָה.
"officers of thousands": If there were 1,999 less one, then he (the officer of the 1,000) was made the officer (of the additional 999). "officers of hundreds": If there were (an additional) ninety-nine, he (the officer of the 100), was made their officer. And thus for the officers of fifty and the officers of ten.
וְשׁוֹטְרִים, אֵלּוּ הַלְוִיִּם הַמַּכִּים בִּרְצוּעָה, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים ב יט יא): ״וְשׁוֹטְרִים הַלְוִיִּם לִפְנֵיכֶם״, וְאוֹמֵר (נחמיה ח יא): ״וְהַלְוִיִּם מַחְשִׁים לְכָל הָעָם לֵאמֹר הַסּוּ״.
"and bailiffs for your tribes": wielders of the lash, viz. (II Chronicles 19:11) "and the Levite bailiffs before you," and (Nechemiah 8:11) "and the Levites silenced all the people."