Yitro translation

[cellio]

I read the second aliya of Yitro (Ex 18:13-23) yesterday. My approximate translation (with some assistance on the hard words):

(13) And it was from the next day [1] that Moshe sat to judge the people, and the people stood by Moshe from the morning until the evening. And Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he did for (or to) the people and he said: what is this thing that you are doing to the people? You sit by yourself and all the people gather? [2] around you from morning to evening. And Moshe said to his father-in-law: because the people come to me to inquire (lidrosh, same root as d'rash) of God. When they have a thing (problem, in context) they come to me and I judge between a man and his fellow [3], and I teach (cause to be known) God's statutes (chukim) and his law (torah).

(17) And Moshe's father-in-law said to him: this is not good, this thing that you are doing! You will wear out yourself and also this people that is with you; this thing is too heavy for you and you cannot do it alone. Now listen to my voice! (Or, colloquially, "hey, listen up!") I will advise you and God will be with you. You be a representative for the people to God and you bring concerns (things) to God. Warn them (about) the statutes and the laws and teach them the way they will go and the things they must do.

(21) And you seek from all the people competent men who fear God, men of truth who hate injustice, and charge them as chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. They will judge the people all the time, and (when) there will be a great matter (thing, again) they will bring it to you, and all the minor things they will judge themselves, and they will ease your burden. If this thing you will do and God commands you, you will be able to stand and also all this people upon its place and come in peace. [4]

[1] Many translate this as "on the next day", but I'm reading "mimachorat" as closer to "from the next day onwards" -- Yitro showed up and observed this behavior not just one day but every day.

[2] nitzav (vet, not vav)?

[3] Or neighbor. This is the same word as in "love your neighbor as yourself", which leads to a bunch of rabbinic questions about who is your "neighbor" or "fellow".

[4] I'm having some trouble with this last part.

Comments

[siderea]

Biblical mandate for delegation! Should be required reading for all devout protégés.

[cellio]

Indeed. A leader can't do it all, and even if he could it's not fair to hold everything that closely.

Also mandate to work within the system, at least initially -- poke the leaders to delegate rather than just jumping in and taking over, which leads to chaos.

(I plan to post my d'var on these themes, but not tonight.)