Ver. 15. So I took the chief—and made them heads— Persons of the first rank, and who consequently were least liable to bribery and corruption, were appointed by Moses to their respective offices, and by him charged to a faithful and conscientious discharge of them. It is probable, that these officers had civil as well as military authority, and were a council of state in things relating to the peace and welfare of the public, as well as a council of war to direct the military affairs of the tribes, and command them as an army; for the princes of the tribes were chief military officers, Numbers 2:2-3 and these same were the persons who were to assist Moses, and whom he consulted when he did not summon the whole congregation, Numbers 10:4. And that they were not summoned only as a council of war, appears from Numbers 36:1 where the question in law, concerning the succession of females to inheritances, was brought before Moses, and the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. And upon the whole, it is most likely, that the heads, or captains of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, were vested with civil as well as military authority; that the officers of lower command were the elders and senate of the cities; and that the officers of higher and more general command were the princes, elders and senate of the tribe or province. See Lowman's Dissert. chap. 5:
Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 1:15
Deuteronomy 1:15
15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and madee them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.