Yitro’s sage (wise) advice as a model role

Shavua Tov (Have a good week)!

Last Shabbat, we all read in the Diaspora on 6 February 2021 (24 Sh’vat 5781) on

Torah Parashat 17: (Jethro)Exodus 18:1–20:23(26) CJB

Haftarah Yitro: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 6:1–7:6; 9:5(6)– 6(7) (A); 6:1–13 (S)

B’rit Hadashah (Renewed Covenant) suggested readings for Parashah Yitro:

Mattityahu (Matthew) 5:21–30; 15:1–11; 19:16–30; Mark 7:5–15; 10:17–31; Luke 18:18–30; Acts 6:1–7; Romans 2:17–29; 7:7–12; 13:8–10; Ephesians 6:1–3; 1 Timothy 3:1–14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5–9; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 12:18–29; Ya‘akov (James) 2:8–13; 1 Kefa (1 Peter) 2:9–10.

Please click Exodus 18

Moshe’s two sons: Gershom (Heb. Ger (an outsider) sham (there) and Eliezer (Heb. Eli (my God) etzer (help)

Exodus 18:3 and his two sons, the name of the one of whom was Gershom, Because He had said, I am a dweller in a strange land which is not mine;

Exodus 18:4 and the name of the other Eliezer, For (he had said) the God of my fathers was my helper, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.

Interesting about Exodus 18:4 ….saved me (Moshe/Moses) from the sword of Pharaoh.

Rashi’s Commentary elaborates and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword: 

When Dathan and Abiram informed [Pharaoh] about the incident of the Egyptian [whom Moses had slain], and he [Pharaoh] sought to slay Moses, his [Moses’] neck became [as hard] as a marble pillar. — [from Exod. Rabbah 1:31, Deut. Rabbah 2:27].

The bottom line is on the Book of Numbers 16 “Rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram”

They (Korah, Dathan and his brother Abiram) assembled against Moshe and his brother Aaron on Parashat Korach (Korah): “Rebellion of Korah”: he (Korah) was first cousin of Moses and Aaron. Exodus 6:21 cites Korah as being the son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi. … According to Numbers 16:1, his lineage goes: “Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,” making him the great-grandson of the patriarch Levi and the first cousin of Moses and Aaron.

Rebellion of Torah, Dathan, Abirma and their families & possessions: The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them. All of Korah’s men, their families, and everything they owned went down into the earth. They went down into their grave alive. Everything they owned went with them. Then the earth closed over them. They were finished—gone from the camp! Read Numbers 16.

Sages (Hebrew plural: Chokmah (H2451) comes from the verb chakam (singular) to be wise (sage). Please click on Chokmah

Very sage (wisdom) of Yitro advised his son-in-law Moshe: first we read all Exodus 18:13-27 CJB.

ii) ¹³ The following day Moshe sat to settle disputes for the people, while the people stood around Moshe from morning till evening. ¹⁴ When Moshe’s father-in-law saw all that he was doing to the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit there alone, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?” ¹⁵ Moshe answered his father-in-law, “It’s because the people come to me seeking God’s guidance. ¹⁶ Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God’s laws and teachings.”

¹⁷ Moshe’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing isn’t good. ¹⁸ You will certainly wear yourself out — and not only yourself, but these people here with you as well. It’s too much for you — you can’t do it alone, by yourself. ¹⁹ So listen now to what I have to say. I will give you some advice, and God will be with you. You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases to God. ²⁰ You should also teach them the laws and the teachings, and show them how to live their lives and what work they should do. ²¹ But you should choose from among all the people competent men who are God-fearing, honest and incorruptible to be their leaders, in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Normally, they will settle the people’s disputes. They should bring you the difficult cases; but ordinary matters they should decide themselves. In this way, they will make it easier for you and share the load with you. ²³ If you do this — and God is directing you to do it — you will be able to endure; and all these people too will arrive at their destination peacefully.”

(iii) ²⁴ Moshe paid attention to his father-in-law’s counsel and did everything he said. ²⁵ Moshe chose competent men from all Isra’el and made them heads over the people, in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²⁶ As a general rule, they settled the people’s disputes — the difficult cases they brought to Moshe, but every simple matter they decided themselves.

²⁷ Then Moshe let his father-in-law leave, and he went off to his own country.

The above verse 17-18 Moshe understood what his father-in-law’s sage advice he (Moshe) cannot do it all alone all day also his spiritual weariness out and cannot have time to meet an appointment with his spiritual relationship connection with His ABBA.