Exodus 18:15

Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire ¹  of God.

Ex 18:19,20; Le 24:12-14; Nu 15:34; Nu 27:5

¹ tn The form is לִדְרֹשׁ (lidrosh), the Qal infinitive construct giving the purpose. To inquire of God would be to seek God’s will on a matter, to obtain a legal decision on a matter, or to settle a dispute. As a judge Moses is speaking for God, but as the servant of Yahweh Moses’ words will be God’s words. The psalms would later describe judges as “gods” because they made the right decisions based on God’s Law.