Yithro told Moses to select judges from among the people, but he specified five qualities they must possess (Exodus 18:21). R. Yehoshua explained what each qualification meant in practice.
"And you shall see from all the people" — the word "see" here means see by prophecy. Moses was not to rely on interviews, recommendations, or reputation. He was to use his prophetic gift to discern the inner character of each candidate. Only a prophet could see past the surface of a man's public behavior to the truth of who he was in private.
"Men of valor" — R. Yehoshua defined this as men of wealth and means. This was not about rewarding the rich. It was about ensuring that judges had no financial vulnerability that could be exploited. A man who does not need money cannot be bought. A man who already has means will not be tempted to twist a verdict for profit.
"Fearers of God" — this qualification applied specifically to their conduct in judgment. A judge who fears God knows that every verdict he renders is observed by the Almighty. He cannot hide behind legal technicalities or procedural loopholes because the divine Judge sees everything.
"Men of truth" — simply put, trustworthy men. Men whose word is reliable, whose testimony can be believed, whose character is consistent in public and in private.
"Haters of gain" — men who hate to accept money for collusion in judgment. Not merely men who refuse bribes, but men who actively despise the very concept of profiting from their judicial authority.