Moshe's Duties and Yitro's Advice/3

From AlHaTorah.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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 – Seforno.
    • 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 – Seforno, 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.
    • 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.