As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And Hashem said to Moses: Gather to me seventy men of the Elders of Israel that you know that they are the Elders of the people and its magistrates.” (11:16)

The question arises: how did this answer Moshe’s entreaty? Moshe had said “From where should I have meat to give to all this people?” (11:13) How could the choice of seventy elders solve this question? Another question may be asked: Why the redundance in Hashem’s words: “The elders of Israel that you know that they are the elders of the people?” Also: at first they are called “the elders of Israel,” and now they are called “the elders of the people.”

But we must first understand that in reality the people lacked nothing. “Hashem is good to everyone” (Tehillim 145:9) “but most men are like the blind, and fail to recognize His kindness” (Chovot Halevavot, Bechinah preface). This failure to enjoy the kindness of Hashem is induced by habit, and also by the constant striving to gain more, and also by the fact that there are always some inconveniences in men’s lives which stimulate dissatisfaction. The remedy for this universal lack of happiness is not achieved by supplying additional pleasures, as some of the people had demanded. (11: 4-5)

In order to be happy, men must learn to recognize how fortunate they are in every detail. This therefore requires the study of each detail until one learns to enjoy it, and after the study of many details, the sum of all them adds up to a total of happiness. Thus when a man enjoys his eyesight properly, and he appreciates his sane mind, and he relishes his daily bread, and he understands the blessings of a cup of water, and he realizes the pleasures and benefits of sound sleep every night, and he sees the advantages of peace and of law and order, and he perceives the privileges of a roof over his head, and when the benefits of each article of his clothing and of each utensil of his home are properly studied: these and countless additional details create a chorus of joy and praise to Hashem.

But this study, as valuable as it is, is not available to the ordinary mind. Therefore the multitude needs instruction by sage teachers that are willing to donate their time for this purpose of opening the eyes of men to recognize the happiness of their lot. Moshe, as great a teacher as he was, was unable single-handedly to undertake this task. The seventy elders were chosen for this purpose. To assist them in this function, Hashem sent upon them the spirit of Prophecy.

These seventy were “elders of Israel” in the sense of sagacity in understanding the Torah, but they were chosen also because they were known as “elders of the people” that had experience in dealing with the matters of personal relations of the people and were therefore capable of dealing with every level of the people. It is probable that these seventy elders spoke first to the best disciples, in addition to their lectures to the people in general. Such disciples could train others, until the Awareness of Hashem’s kindness would universally be recognized by the entire multitude.

Quoted from “Journey Into Greatness” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

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