Study Sanhedrin folio 17A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
with you” (Numbers 11:16), i.e., they will stand “with you,” and you are to be counted with them, leading to a total number of 71. And R' Yehuda holds that the term “with you” is mentioned due to the Shekhina that rested on Moses. According to R' Yehuda, Moses was instructed to remain with the 70 E
The Talmud asks: And how would the Rabbis respond to this line of reasoning? The Talmud answers: The verse states: “And they shall bear the burden of the people with you” (Numbers 11:17), which indicates: “With you,” and you are to be counted with them. And how would R' Yehuda respond to that? He wo
And from where do the Rabbis derive that halakha? They derive it from what was stated with regard to the appointment of the ministers of thousands and the ministers of hundreds: “And they shall make it easier for you, and bear the burden with you” (Exodus 18:22), understanding the term “with you” to
§ Apropos the appointment of the Elders by Moses, the Talmud discusses additional aspects of that event. There were 72 candidates for Elder but only 70 were needed. They were chosen by lots with their names put into a box. A baraita states: The verse states: “And there remained two men in the camp;
The baraita explains: At the time that God said to Moses: “Gather for Me 70 men of the Elders of Israel” (Numbers 11:16), Moses said: How shall I do it? If I select 6 from each and every tribe, there will be a total of 72, which will be two extra. But if I select 5 from each and every tribe, there