Sirach 37:

16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.

 

 

A Council was established for Israel by Moses

 

 

Exodus 18 

8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 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:

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 

 

Definition of Counsel 

 

Counsel

H3289

Original: יעץ

Transliteration: yâ‛ats

Phonetic: yaw-ats'

 

BDB Definition:

 

to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan

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(Qal)

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to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult

counsellor (participle)

(Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together

(Hithpael) to conspire

 

Origin: a primitive root

TWOT entry: 887

Part(s) of speech: Verb

 

Strong's Definition: A primitive root; to advise ; reflexively to deliberate or resolve: - advertise, take advice, advise (well), consult, (give take) counsel (-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

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Scriptures that show the importance of Counsel

 

 

Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 

 

 

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

 

 

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 

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Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.