[previous CHAPTER]CHAPTER II. Of the Orders or Kinds of Rulers. The rulers were of two sorts, superior and inferior. The superior was a judge with a supreme council. The inferior were the judges and officers that were appointed in every gate or city.
1. Superior. And they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not alone thyself, Numb. 11:16,17, spoken of the 70, who were appointed as helps to the judge in the government. The judge was chief of the council, and general of the army, called therefore sometimes king, Deut. 33:5, who were principally to transact in the affairs of state, to teach the people the ordinances and laws, Exod. 18:20. To appoint and oversee the under judges and officers, Deut. 16:18, Exod. 18:21. To hear appeals and judge in difficult cases, Exod. 18:22, Deut. 17:8,9.
2. Inferior. Such shall be rulers of thousands, hundreds, and tens, and let them judge the people at all seasons; the hard causes shall they bring to thee, but the smaller matters they shall judge, Exod. 18:21,26. Which government continued from Moses till Samuel, about 450 years, as Acts 13:20. There was no great difference between a king of God’s approving, and a judge, there being but one law and administration thereof to both, Deut. 17:18-20. [next CHAPTER]
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