What did Moshe tell the people?
Rashi: He repeated to them what Hashem had said to him - "ha'Yad Hashem Tiktzar"? And it was following the people's negative response 1 that he gathered the seventy elders.
Oznayim la'Torah: He told them to prepare for the next day 2 - when their request would be fufilled.
Why did Moshe change the order - first telling them what Hashem had told him nd then gathering the seventy elders?
"Vaya'amed osam Sevivos ha'Ohel". Why did Moshe place place them round te Ohel Mo'ed?
R. Bachye (on Pasuk 16): Like Hashem placed the seventy angels around the Kisei ha'Kavod. 1
R. Bachye: To teach us us the greatness of Moshe, inasmuch as the seventy elders drew their power of prophecy from Moshe, just as the seventy angels drew their power of leadership from Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu.
