Moshe's Duties and Yitro's Advice/3

Moshe's Duties and Yitro's Advice

Points of Dispute

These are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:

• The scope of Yitro's proposal and its relationship to Bavli Eiruvin 54b:
  • Yitro focused solely on the judicial system and there is no connection to the educational system mentioned in the Bavli – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Tzeror HaMor, Shadal.
  • The Bavli's educational hierarchy was already in place and was part of the cause of the problem – Sforno.
  • It was Yitro who proposed that Moshe both create the educational hierarchy and delegate some of his administrative responsibilities – Vilna Gaon, HaKetav VeHaKabbalah.
  • Yitro proposed that Moshe delegate administrative and military duties, but not educational ones – Abarbanel Devarim 1.
• Why are the people coming לִדְרֹשׁ אֱ-לֹהִים?
  • To seek Torah guidance – Onkelos, Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Vilna Gaon.
  • To learn how to worship Hashem – R. Saadia in his Commentary, HaKetav VeHaKabbalah.
  • To request prayer on their behalf – Ramban.¹
  • To inquire about the future – Ralbag, Derashot HaRan, Abarbanel, R. D"Z Hoffmann.
  • To inquire about the nation's encampment – Sforno, Vilna Gaon.
  • To pay their respects to Moshe – Akeidat Yitzchak.
  • To request judgment:
    • אֱ-לֹהִים means God – Shadal.
    • אֱ-לֹהִים means judgment – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Tzeror Hamor.
• What are חֻקֵּי הָאֱ-לֹהִים וְאֶת תּוֹרֹתָיו?
  • Laws given at Mara – Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel.
  • Laws given after the Decalogue – Ibn Ezra.
  • Ad hoc laws (הוראת שעה) – Shadal.
  • Laws which provide the source of the verdict and its reasoning – Tzeror Hamor.

¹ As the people are coming to Moshe to seek God, Ramban is forced to explain that they are requesting Moshe to pray for them and not praying themselves. U. CassutoShemot 18:15-16About U. Cassuto disagrees with Ramban's interpretation and suggests that this is only Yitro's erroneous understanding based on his idolatrous notions of people bringing their petions to the priest for him to pray for them. This dispute may be rooted in a fundamental disagreement between the rationalist and mystical traditions in understanding how prayer functions and the role of an intermediary in prayer – see Prayer. Compare also Ramban's approach with that of R. Saadia.