We are in chapter eighteen of Exodus with our word for today. חַ֫יִל faculty, power, strength, efficiency, wealth, army, competent, brave, ability, quality. It is used 245 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used most often to describe a standing army for a nation. 2 Samuel 8:9-10 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire חֵ֥יל army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him. 2 Kings 25:5-6 The Babylonian חֵיל army pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All חֵיל֔וֹ his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured.
Then we also see it used to describe exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger especially in battle. 1 Samuel 31:11-12 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their חַיִל֮ valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh. 2 Samuel 23:20 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a חַי valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
These two senses of army and courage lend toward this idea of being qualified in the sense of having the ability to be counted on to accomplish a task in a way that brings goodness to those relying on the good that is needed. When Pharaoh was settling Joseph’s family into Egypt he asked for these kind of men so that he and his people would benefit. Genesis 47:5-6 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any חַ֔יִל able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” This is how our word is used in our chapter today.
Exodus 18:21, 25-26 Moreover, look for חַ֜יִל able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens…Moses chose חַ֙יִל֙ able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Did you catch how these qualified or able men are identified? They hate brides and are trustworthy. If a man is not able to be corrupted, then he is reliable in that everyone benefits from his service not just the few who are offering the brides.
In the New Testament the leaders of the local churches are also to have this idea of courage and bravery that makes one qualified to serve so that everyone in the church benefits. In the list of qualifications for Church leaders found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 this same description we have already seen that of not being corruptible with dishonest gain and loving money. This again makes them reliable because bribes won’t work on them so the benefits of their service are not limited to just the handful of people bribing them. This is emphasized in the very first statement about Elders, Overseers, and Pastors three titles for the same one job. 1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. It is a noble task that benefits everyone. I’ll close with these great proverbs that remind us what happens when we don’t set up qualified men to lead. Instead of benefiting everyone a lot of people get hurt. Proverbs 26:6,10 Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison…Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
