Deuteronomy

In a comment on Numbers Chapter 1, several signs were given regarding the birthing of the Jewish nation. Electing leaders and the giving of the law were two of the signs noted.

Earlier in the Torah, it appears that Moshe elects elders at the behest of his father-in-law, Jethro, alone. However, scripture always cuts scripture to help us learn the workings of Hashem and His order. Here in Deuteronomy, we learn that Moshe meets with Hashem and tells Hashem that he cannot bear the burden of the entirety of the Israelites on his own, since Hashem had kept His promise and made us more numerous than the stars of the sky.

Here, we learn that Hashem commands Moshe to choose elders to be leaders over the Jewish people to help him govern the people. These leaders were charged with being magistrates who would "hear out (their) fellow men and decide justly between any man and a fellow Israelite or stranger." Only if the judgements were too hard for the elders would the decisions be brought to Moshe. But, Hashem makes clear that the final judgement is His.

At this time was when Hashem then gave the Torah.

• It was by the set of the Laws "written in this book" (Deuteronomy 28:58 & 69; Deuteronomy 31:9)) by which all judgements should be made.

• "Nothing should be added to them, nor taken away from them." (Deuteronomy 4:2).

• Thus in Deuteronomy 1:17, Hashem commands "Fear no man, for judgement is Hashem's."

Am Yisrael Chai!

Kimberly Davis