is, that thou shalt be 'the vessel of the revelations of God,' and shalt
lay the revelations of God before the people, as often as thou
receivest them; so that they may understand the exposition of the
Torah, as well as its decisions. And thou shalt instruct them how to
pray in the synagogues, how to tend the sick, how to bury their
dead, how to render the services of friendship to one another, how
to practice justice, and how, in some cases, not to insist on strict
justice. But as for trying the people as a judge, thou shouldst, in
accordance with thy prophetic insight, choose men that are
possessed of wisdom, fear of God, modesty, hate of covetousness,
love of truth, love of humanity, and a good name, and these shall
devote all their time to trials, and to the study of the study of the
Torah. If God approve my plan, then wilt thou and Aaron, his sons
and the seventy elders, and all the people dwell in peace." [162]

This counsel of Jethro's found great favor in Moses' eyes, for he
had been only too well aware of the difficulties and annoyances
with which he had had to contend. The people were very
disputatious, being willing to spend seventy silverlings in litigation
costs for the sake of gaining one silverling, and did their utmost to
lengthen their disputes at law. When on say that Moses was about
to cast a decision against him, he demanded that his lawsuit be
adjourned, declaring that had witnesses and other proofs, which he
would bring forward on the next occasion. But they were not
merely litigious and disputations, they were also spiteful, and
vented their temper on Moses. If Moses went out early, they would
say: "Behold the son of Amram, who betakes himself early to the
gathering of manna, that he may get the largest grains." If he went
out late, they would say: "Behold the son of Amram, he goes
through the multitude, to gather in marks of hone." But if he chose