Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Exodus 18:20/רמב"ן על שמות י״ח:כ׳

אוְהִזְהַרְתָּ אֶתְהֶם אֶת הַחֻקִּים וְאֶת הַתּוֹרֹת וְתוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ בָהּ עַל פִּי הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוָה. שֶׁתַּזְהִירֵם אַתָּה מְאֹד, וּתְלַמְּדֵם הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוָה. הוֹדָה לוֹ גַּם בְּמָה שֶׁאָמַר וְהוֹדַעְתִּי אֶת חֻקֵּי הָאֱלֹהִים וְאֶת תּוֹרֹתָיו, וְגַם בָּזֶה עֵצָה, לְהַזְהִיר אוֹתָם מְאֹד, וּלְהַתְרוֹת אוֹתָם בַּמִּצְוֹת וְעָנְשָׁם, אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה הוּא בָּהֶם אֶת הַדִּין. אֲבָל בַּמִּשְׁפָּט אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ וְשָׁפַטְתִּי בֵּין אִישׁ וּבֵין רֵעֵהוּ, שִׂים לְךָ שׁוֹפְטִים עִמְּךָ, כִּי כָבֵד מִמְּךָ דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט יוֹתֵר מִן הַכֹּל, וְטוֹב לְךָ וְלָהֶם לְהָקֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ, וְנָשְׂאוּ אִתָּךְ. וּבְיָדוּעַ כִּי הָיוּ עִם מֹשֶׁה שׁוֹטְרִים נוֹגְשִׂים בָּעָם, לְהָבִיא הַנִּתְבָּעִים לְפָנָיו וּלְנָגְשָׂם בִּדְבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט, וְהַרְבֵּה מֵהֶם עִם הַשּׁוֹפְטִים הָאֵלּוּ, וּלְכָךְ אָמַר בְּמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה (דברים א טו) "וְשׁוֹטְרִים לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶם". וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לְהַזְכִּיר זֶה בְּכָאן, כִּי לֹא הָיָה מֵעֲצַת יִתְרוֹ:

1AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM THE STATUTES AND THE LAWS, AND SHALT SHOW THEM THE WAY WHEREIN THEY MUST WALK. That is, “according to the law and the commandment with which you will strongly admonish them, and you will teach the law and the commandment.” Thus Jethro also conceded to Moses on this matter, of which he had said, and I make them know the statutes of G-d, and His laws.⁹⁸ In this too there was counsel [on the part of Jethro], i.e., that Moses should strongly admonish them and warn them of the commandments and [Divine] punishments [in case of transgression], since he himself would not be involved in the execution of the law. “But in matters of judgment whereof you said, and I judge between a man and his neighbor,⁹⁸ designate judges to act with you, for the thing is too heavy for thee.⁹⁹ That is, the judging of disputes between them is heavier than all, and it would be good for you and for them to make it easier for you and they shall bear the burden with thee.”¹⁰⁰ Now it is known that Moses had officers in charge of the people. [It was the duty of these officers] to bring before him the persons against whom claims had been made and to force them to comply with the verdict of the judges. He assigned many of these officers as these judges. This is why Moses said in Deuteronomy, and I made them heads over you, captains of thousands… and officers, tribe by tribe.¹⁰¹ There was no need to mention them here since their appointment was not part of Jethro’s counsel.