Tenspatrn

The Pattern of Tens

• Exodus 18:24 "So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers (שָׂרֵ֣י) of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers (שָׂרֵ֣י) of fifties, and rulers (וְשָׂרֵ֥י) of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves."
• Deuteronomy 1:15: Moses recalls this organizational structure as he recounts the wilderness journey. He states, "So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes".
• Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Moses exhorted Israel to make a choice as a part of the covenant God made with Israel contained three major features: The law, the sacrifice, and the choice. Joshua 24:15 ("choose this day whom you will serve"), Matthew 4:19 (Jesus' call to his disciples, "Follow Me... and I will make you fishers of men"), Matthew 22:37–39 (the great commandments to love God and neighbor), and Romans 12:2 (to not conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind)
• Mark 6:8 "And commanded (παρήγγειλεν parēngeilen to order) them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:".
• Mark 8:6 "And he commanded (παραγγέλλει parangellei) the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before [them]; and they did set [them] before the people."(parangellei Acts 17:30)
• Mark 6:39 "And he commanded (epitasso) them to make all sit down (ἀνακλῖναι anaklinai ana=each) by companies (συμπόσια συμπόσια, symposia symposia twice) upon the green grass." He was commanding the disciples not the people. * Matthew 8:11 "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down (anaklithēsontai) with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."
• Acts 6:3: The New Testament account of the early church appointing deacons echoes this leadership model. The apostles told the believers, "Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty". This shows the biblical precedent for delegating responsibilities to capable leaders, which was first established by Moses.