The sad predicament of Moses on this occasion is partly traceable to
the fact that he had to face alone the murmurs and complaints of the
people without the accustomed assistance of the seventy elders. Since
the exodus from Egypt the seventy elders of the people had always been
at his side, but these had recently been killed by the fire from heaven
at Taberah, so that he now stood all alone. This death overtook the
elders because like Nadab and Abihu they had not shown sufficient
reverence in ascending Mount Sinai on the day of the revelation, when,
in view of the Divine vision, they conducted themselves in an unseemly
manner. Like Nadab and Abihu the elder would have received
instantaneous punishment for their offense, had not God been unwilling
to spoil the joyful day of the revelation by their death. But they had
to pay the penalty nevertheless: Nadab and Abihu, by being burned at
the consecration of the Tabernacle, and the elders similarly, at
Taberah. [472]
As Moses now utterly refused to bear the burden of the people alone,
God said to him: "I gave thee sufficient understanding and wisdom to
guide My children alone, that thou mightest be distinguished by this
honor. Thou, however, wishest to share this guidance with others. Go,
then, and expect no help from Me, 'but I will take of the spirit that
is upon thee and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden
of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone'" [473]
God bade Moses choose as his helpers in the guidance of the people such
men as had already been active leaders and officers in Egypt. In the
days of Egyptian bondage it frequently happened that the officers of
the children of Israel were beaten if the people had not fulfilled
their task in making bricks, but "he that is willing to sacrifice
himself for the benefit of Israel shall be rewarded with honor,
dignity, and the gift of the Holy Spirit." The officers suffered in
Egypt for Israel, and were now found worthy of having the Holy Spirit
come upon them. [474] God moreover said to Moses: "With kindly words
welcome the elders to their new dignity, saying, 'Hail to you that are
deemed worthy by God of being fit for this office.' At the same time,
however, speak seriously with them also, saying, 'Know ye that the
Israelites are a troublesome and stiff-necked people, and that you must
ever be prepared to have them curse you or cast stones at you'"
God commanded the selection of the elders to take place at the
Tabernacle, that Israel might reverence them, saying, "Surely these are
worthy men," but they were not permitted with Moses to enter the
Tabernacle and hear God's word. The people were however mistaken in
assuming that God's word reached the ears of the elders, for He spoke
with Moses alone, even though the prophetic spirit came upon them also.
[475]
Now when Moses wished to proceed to the selection of the seventy
elders, he was in a sore predicament because he could not evenly divide
the number seventy among the twelve tribes, and was anxious to show no
partiality to one tribe over another, which would lead to
dissatisfaction among Israel. Bezalel, son of Uri, however, gave Moses
good advice. He took seventy slips of paper on which was written
"elder," and with them two blank slips, and mixed all these in an urn.
Seventy-two elders, six to each tribe, now advance and each drew a
slip. Those whose slips were marked "elder" were elected, while those
who had drawn blank slips were rejected, but in such a wise that they
could not well accuse Moses of partiality. [476]
By this method of appointment, it came to pass that there were six
elders for each tribe except the tribe of Levi. The names of those
chosen were: from the tribe of Reuben, - Hanoch, Carmi, Pallu, Zaccur,
Eliab, Nemuel; from the tribe of Simeon, - Jamin, Jachin, Zohar, Ohad,
Shaul, Zimri; from the tribe of Levi, - Amram, Hananiah, Nethanel,
Sithri; from the tribe of Judah, - Zerah, Dan, Jonadab, Bezalel,
Shephatiah, Nahshon; from the tribe of Issachar, - Zuar, Uzza, Igal,
Palti, Othniel, Haggi; from the tribe of Zebulun, - Sered, Elon, Sodi,
Oholiab, Elijah, Nimshi; from the tribe of Benjamin, - Senaah, Kislon,
Elidad, Ahitub, Jediael, Mattaniah; from the tribe of Joseph, - Jair,
Joezer, Malchiel, Adoniram, Abiram, Sethur; from the tribe of Dan, -
Gedaliah, Jogli, Ahinoam, Ahiezer, Daniel, Seraiah; from the tribe of
Naphtali, - Elhanan, Eliakim, Elishama, Semachiah, Zabdi, Johanan; from
the tribe of Gad, - Haggai, Zarhi, Keni, Mattathiah, Zechariah, Shuni;
from the tribe of Asher, - Pashhur, Shelomi, Samuel, Shalom, Shecaniah,
Abihu. [477]
Moses gathered these seventy elders of novel extraction and of lofty
and pious character round about the tent in which God used to reveal
Himself, bidding thirty of them take their stand on the south side,
thirty on the northern, and ten on the eastern, whereas he himself
stood on the western side. For this tent was thirty cubits long and ten
cubits wide, so that a cubit each was apportioned to the elders. [478]
God was so pleased with the appointment of the elders that, just as on
the day of the revelation, He descended from heaven and permitted the
spirit of prophecy to come upon the elders, so that they received the
prophetic gift to the end of their days, as God had put upon them of
the spirit of Moses. But Moses' spirit was not diminished by this, he
was like a burning candle from which many others are lighted, but which
is not therefore diminished; and so likewise was the wisdom of Moses
unimpaired. Even after the appointment of the elders did Moses remain
the leader of the people, for he was the head of this Sanhedrin of
seventy members which he guided and directed. [479]
The position of the elders was not of the same rank as that of Moses,
for he was the king of Israel, and it was for this reason that God had
bidden him to secure trumpets, to use them for the calling of the
assembly, that this instrument might be blown before him as before a
king. Hence shortly before Moses' death these trumpets were recalled
from use, for his successor Joshua did not inherit from him either his
kingly dignity or these royal insignia. Not until David's time were the
trumpets used again which Moses had fashioned in the desert. [480]