What happened to the elders that had served the community up until then?
"Esfah Li Shiv'im Ish mi'Ziknei Yisrael". Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) word "Li"?
R. Bachye (citing the Tanchuma): Because the Zekenim are one of thirteen things that belong to Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu - Silver and gold, Kohanim, Levi'im, Bechoros, Mizbe'ch, Terumah, Shemen ha'Mishchah, Ohel Mo'ed, Malchus Beis-David, Korbanos, retz Yisrael nd Zekenim. 1
See R. Bachye for sources and explanations.
What is the significance of the seventy elders?
Ramban: It corresponds to the seventy nations 1 and their seventy languages, each with its representative angel in Heaven. 2 Because the number seventy represents all the possible combinations of powers and of mindsets. 3 And just as there are seventy nations plus Yisrael, and seventy angels around the Kisvei ha'Kodesh plus Hashem, so too, shall there be Moshe and seventy members of Sanhedrin. 4
R. Bachye: From the time that the seventy souls arrived in Egypt with Ya'akov, the number seventy did not cease to play a prominent role in their development - not in the desert and not in the eras of the first and of the second Batei- Mikdash. seventy elders plus Moshe and seventy members of the Sanhedrin and the Nasi. Also the Name Havayah (Rachamim) plus the Miluy 5 and the Name Adnus (Midas ha'Din - Malei 'Vav") both equal seventy-one.
Moshav Zekenim (citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid): They needed to be around the Mishkan, which was thirty Amos long on the north, thirty on the south, and ten on the west 6 . Only Moshe was in the east and a person occupies one Amah width.
Hadar Zekenim and Moshav Zekenim: They correspond to the seventy souls who descended to Egypt (and to the seventy nations, the seventy members of the Sanhedrin, the seventy Yamim Tovim each year 7 , the seventy Names of Hashem 8 , the seventy facets of Torah, the seventy names of Yisrael, the seventy names of Yerushalayim, 9 the seventy angels above, 10 and Micha'el the Sar of Yisrael - corresponding to Moshe - is over them - Moshav Zekenim).
Kidushin, 32b: "mi'Ziknei Yisrael" teaches us that "Zakein" is synonymous with 'Chacham'. 11
Sifri: We learn from here that Hashem gave Kavod to the Zekenim (since Hashem said "Lech Ve'asafta ? " - Hagahos).
Sanhedrin 2a: It teaches us that the Sanhedrin comprised seventy-one Dayanim - seventy plus the Nasi. 12
Ramban: At which also the seventy bulls of the Musaf-offering on Succos also hint.
See, for example, Daniel, 1:13 & 10:20 and Yeshayah, 24:21.
Thereby ensuring that nothing is hidden from the Sanhedrin.
And in future generations, seventy judges plus the Nasi, which the Gemara in Sanhedrin, 2a & 16b learns from the word "Vehisyatzvu Sham Imach". See also Torah Temimah, note 10. See Ramban, citing Pirkei de'R. Eliezer, who elaborates further.
See R. Chavel's footnotes DH ''Misparo u'Milu'o ?'.
Moshav Zekenim: Even though with the beams in the corners, the Mishkan was thirty-one long and twelve wide, the Zekenim corresponded to the interior of the Mishkan.
Seven days of Pesach, Shavu'os, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kipur, eight days of Sukos, and fiffty-two Shabbosos. (One Shabbos always occurs during Pesach and at least one during Sukos? Perhaps the day counts twice, for laws of Shabbos and the festival both apply. PF).
See also Ba'al ha'Turim who lists sixty-six Names of Hashem and sixty-nine names of Yisrael.
Bamidbar Rabah 14:12 and Osiyos d'R. Akiva also allude to the seventy names of Hashem, Yisrael and Yerushalayim.
See Torah Temimah, note 13.
Se answer #1 note 4.
"Shiv'im Ish mi'Ziknei Yisrael". What is the significance of the "Ziknei Yisrael"?
R. Bachye: With reference to Bereishis 24:1:1:8, they appointed seventy elders in Egypt to lead them and teach them righteous laws. 1
Sifri: "Ziknei Yisrael" means 'Chachamm' - and this teaches us that Hashem bestows honor upon the Chachamim. 2
What was Hashem referring to when He said " ? Asher Yada'ata ki heim Ziknei ha'Am ve'Shotrav"?
Rashi: He was referring to the fact that these same elders had been appointed officers in Egypt, 1 and out of compassion, had chosen to be flogged rather than inflict additional suffering upon their Jewish brothers by forcing them to work beyond their capacity. Now, Hashem was rewarding them 2 by appointing them officers in the time of greatness, jut as they were appointed officers in the time of suffering.
Refer to Sh'mos, 5:14:1:1**. They are not to be confused however with the elders whom they appointed in Egypt to lead and teach them (Refer to 11:16:2.1:1) - who died in Tav'eirah, and whom they were now coming to replace.
Da'as Zekenim: Whoever is Moser himself for Yisrael, in the end he merits greatness, honor and Ru'ach ha'Kodesh.
What did Hashem mean when He said "Velakachta osam"?
Rashi: It means that Moshe should draw them with kind words - 'by telling them how praiseworthy they are to have been chosen as leaders of Hashem's children.
Why did they have to stand there together with Moshe in full view of the people?
Rashi: So that the people should see them and give them their due Kavod. 1
Rashi: And they will say 'How beloved are these men who joined Moshe to hear the words of Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu!'
What are the implications of the word Ve'hisyatzvu Sham Imach"?
Sanhedrin 2a (according to the Chachamim): Refer to 11:16:2:4*.
Sanhedrin, 17a (according to R. Yehudah) It implies that members of the Sanhedrin should be like Moshe ("Imach" - 'be'Domin lach') - not Geirim, not Nesinim and not Mamzerim - Yerushalmi Horayos 1:4]) 1
See Oznayim la'Torah, citing the Chachamim, who learn this from "Venas'u Itach" in Yisro, Sh'mos, 18:22.
Why did Hashem say "Esfah Li", and why did he say "Shiv'im Ish" (singular)?
Da'as Zekenim #1: They should be special, like Me - "Hashem Ish Milchamah", and like you - "ve'ha'Ish Moshe Anav Me'od". So we expound in Sanhedrin 17a "Itcha" (Pasuk 17) - like you.
Da'as Zekenim #2: They will preserve My Shamayim and Aretz. "Ha'Boneh Shamayim Aliyosav va'Agudaso al Eretz Yesadah" (Amos 9:6) - if there is no Eretz, there is no Shamayim. This is like a palace built on boats. If the boats move away, the palace falls.
