Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Yisro Shelishi: Moshe listens to the advice (Tuesday, 16th Shevat)

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Shelishi

  • Moshe listens to the advice: Moshe adhered to Yisro’s advice in all that he said. Moshe appointed men of valor from amongst the nation, and made them leaders upon the people. They judged the nation at all times, only bringing Moshe those cases that are too difficult for them to arbitrate.
  • Yisro leaves: Moshe sent off his father-in-law and he returned to his land.

Shemot 18:24-27 — Q&A Based on Rashi

 

 

Q1: What does it mean that “Moshe listened to the voice of his father‑in‑law” (18:24)?

A: Moshe accepted Yisro’s advice fully and implemented it exactly as Yisro had suggested, after consulting with God (as Yisro himself instructed him to do).

 

Q2: Who were the “men of substance” that Moshe chose? (18:25)

A: They were the men described earlier by Yisro:

  • אנשי חיל — wealthy men, who would not flatter or show favoritism
  • יראי אלוהים — God‑fearing
  • אנשי אמת — trustworthy
  • שונאי בצע — who despise dishonest gain

These qualities ensured righteous and incorruptible judges.

 

Q3: How does Rashi understand the verbs “וְשָׁפְטוּ,” “יְבִיאוּן,” and “יִשְׁפּוּטוּ הֵם” (18:26)?

A:

  • וְשָׁפְטוּ — “they will judge” (command/future)
  • יְבִיאוּן — “they will bring” (command/future)
  • יִשְׁפּוּטוּ הֵם — “they judged (themselves)” — this describes what they actually did.

Rashi notes that יִשְׁפּוּטוּ is equivalent to יִשְׁפְּטוּ, and Onkelos translates it in the past/performed sense: דָּיְנִין אִנּוּן — “they were judging.”

 

Q4: What system of judgment did Moshe establish (18:26)?

A:

  • Minor cases → handled by the newly appointed judges
  • Difficult/major cases → brought to Moshe

This structure eased the burden on Moshe and ensured swift justice for the people.

 

Q5: Why does Moshe send Yisro back to his land (18:27)?

A: Rashi explains that Yisro returned to convert his family — to bring them under the wings of the Shechinah.

This matches the earlier Midrashic praise of Yisro: he left honor and comfort behind to pursue Torah and holiness.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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