The Start of Knowledge – A Short Thought on Parshas Yisro 5770
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Loading ...Yisro suggested that judges should be appointed in order to relieve the people and Moshe from waiting all day for judgement. Hashem agreed to the idea and commanded Moshe to establish it. What is strange is the order in which it was both suggested and implemented.
1- “The hard questions go to Moshe”,
2- “and the small things will be decided by the judges”.
Logic dictates that it should have been phrased in the opposite order? It should have first said that the minor judges should decide the cases which are fit for them and then go on to say that the hard things which are beyond their abilities should be brought to Moshe. Why is Moshe’s department mentioned first?
I believe that a most important lesson is being taught here. The judges must know that they don’t know everything! This is a vital introduction to Torah law. One who thinks he knows it all, will be a terrible judge and will decide incorrectly because of his ego preventing him from asking his superiors.
Hence, the introduction given to the new judges stressed the fact that the hard matters should be brought to Moshe. Only after recognizing their own limitations were they then ready to judge matters fit for them.
