What kind of men did Jethro say Moses should appoint as rulers?
Jethro told Moses to provide from all the people able men who fear God, men of truth who hate covetousness, and to place them over the people as rulers of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. These were the qualifications Jethro set for the appointed rulers.
Les explains that Jethro’s counsel sounded logical and good, but the chapter never says “and the Lord said”; the Lord is out of the picture, and this is a man speaking in the energy of the flesh. Jethro tells Moses to teach the people ordinances and laws, show them the way they must walk, and provide able men from all the people—men who fear God, men of truth, and men who hate covetousness—placing such men as rulers over thousands, hundreds, and fifties. Les notes that the people already had organization and came out of Egypt with their armies, not as a bunch of rabble, so Jethro’s advice rang true. Yet verse 24 says Moses harkened to his father-in-law and did all that he said, picking out men accordingly.
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: