Discovery BoxExodus 18:18
Context18:18 You will surely wear out, 1 both you and these people who are with you, for this is too 2 heavy a burden 3 for you; you are not able to do it by yourself.
Exodus 18:22
Context18:22 They will judge 4 the people under normal circumstances, 5 and every difficult case 6 they will bring to you, but every small case 7 they themselves will judge, so that 8 you may make it easier for yourself, 9 and they will bear the burden 10 with you.
Exodus 18:26
Context18:26 They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring 11 to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.
[18:18] 1 tn The verb means “to fall and fade” as a leaf (Ps 1:3). In Ps 18:45 it is used figuratively of foes fading away, failing in strength and courage (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 166). Here the infinitive absolute construction heightens the meaning.
[18:18] 2 tn Gesenius lists the specialized use of the comparative min (מ) where with an adjective the thought expressed is that the quality is too difficult for the attainment of a particular aim (GKC 430 §133.c).
[18:18] 3 tn Here “a burden” has been supplied.
[18:22] 4 tn The form is the perfect tense with the vav (ו) consecutive, making it equivalent to the imperfect of instruction in the preceding verse.
[18:22] 5 tn Heb “in every time,” meaning “in all normal cases” or “under normal circumstances.” The same phrase occurs in v. 26.
[18:22] 6 tn Heb “great thing.”
[18:22] 8 tn The vav here shows the result or the purpose of the instructions given.
[18:22] 9 tn The expression וְהָקֵל מֵעָלֶיךָ (vÿhaqel me’aleykha) means literally “and make it light off yourself.” The word plays against the word for “heavy” used earlier – since it was a heavy or burdensome task, Moses must lighten the load.
[18:22] 10 tn Here “the burden” has been supplied.
[18:26] 7 tn This verb and the verb in the next clause are imperfect tenses. In the past tense narrative of the verse they must be customary, describing continuous action in past time.
