The Torah tells us, "Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord that He had sent him, and all the signs that He had charged him" (Exodus 4:28). Seems straightforward. But Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, digs a little deeper.
It wasn't just about relaying information. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) emphasizes that Moses meticulously communicated "all the words and all the signs" exactly as God commanded. He didn't skip a beat! It's like the verse says, "You shall speak to him, and place the words in his mouth" (Exodus 4:15). Moses became the vessel, the conduit for God's message.
And then comes the moment when Moses and Aaron gather the elders. "Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the children of Israel" (Exodus 4:29). Why the elders? Why not just speak to everyone directly? This is where things get really interesting.
Rabbi Akiva offers a powerful analogy: Israel is like a bird, able to fly only because of its wings. And the elders, the zekenim, are those wings! The word zaken is even an acronym, he points out, for zeh shekana ḥokhma—"one who has acquired wisdom." Wisdom gives them maturity beyond their years. They provide stability, guidance, and a connection to the past.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai highlights how God repeatedly honors the elders. : At the burning bush, God instructs Moses to gather the elders (Exodus 3:16). At Sinai, they are invited to ascend the mountain (Exodus 24:1). At the Tent of Meeting, they are summoned (Leviticus 9:1). And even in the future, the prophet Isaiah envisions God reigning in glory before His elders (Isaiah 24:23).
Rabbi Avin paints an even more striking picture. He says God is destined to seat the elders of Israel in a circle, like a threshing floor, with Himself at the head, judging the idolaters alongside them. As Isaiah says, "The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people" (Isaiah 3:14). It's not just "of" the elders, but "with" them. God will be sitting with them!
What will they be judging? Rabbi Avin explains, quoting Isaiah: "You have consumed the vineyard" (Isaiah 3:14). The vineyard, the Midrash tells us, is Israel itself, as Isaiah also says: "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel" (Isaiah 5:7). And "The theft of the poor is in your houses" (Isaiah 3:14) refers to the afflicted of God's people, as it is written, "For the Lord had founded Zion, and in it the afflicted of His people will take refuge" (Isaiah 14:32).
This image of shared judgment isn’t new. The Midrash even connects it to the way earthly kings conducted court, sitting in a circle. Remember the Sanhedrin (the supreme rabbinic court)? According to Sanhedrin 36b, they sat in a semi-circular shape so they could see each other clearly.
And Solomon, the wisest of men, saw it too! (Proverbs 31:23) speaks of a husband "known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land." The Midrash interprets this as Solomon, through divine inspiration, glimpsing the future when God will judge alongside the elders.
So, what does this all mean? It's not just about old age. It’s about wisdom, experience, and the vital role elders play in guiding and protecting the community. It's about God sharing His authority and judgment with those who have dedicated their lives to serving Him and His people. Next time you encounter an elder in your community, remember their importance. They are the wings that help us soar.
“Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord that He had sent him, and all the signs that He had charged him” (Exodus 4:28). “Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord…” – Moses began saying to him all the words and all the signs that He commanded him to perform before the people. Just as the Holy One blessed be He said to him, so he did: “You shall speak to him, and place the words in his mouth” (Exodus 4:15).
“Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the children of Israel” (Exodus 4:29). “Moses and Aaron went and gathered…” – Rabbi Akiva said: Why was Israel analogized to the bird? Just as a bird flies only by virtue of its wings, so too, Israel is able to stand only by virtue of the elders [zekenim].17Zaken is an acronym for zeh shekana ḥokhma, one who acquired wisdom. Therefore, there can be both elderly Sages and young Sages. Great is Zikna; if it is in the elderly, they are beloved before the Holy One blessed be He, and if they are lads, their youth is their secondary [characteristic].18Their wisdom grants them maturity beyond their years. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: In several places we have learned that the Holy One blessed be He accorded honor to the elders: At the [burning] bush, as it is written: “Go and gather the elders of Israel” (Exodus 3:16); at Sinai, as it is written: “To Moses He said: Come up to the Lord, [you and Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel]” (Exodus 24:1); at the Tent of Meeting, as it is written: “Moses summoned Aaron and his sons [and the elders of Israel]” (Leviticus 9:1); and likewise, in the future, as it is stated: “For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will be glory” (Isaiah 24:23). Rabbi Avin said: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to seat the elders of Israel like a threshing floor,19In a circle and He will sit at the head of all of them as the head of the court, and they will judge the idolaters, as it is stated: “The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people, and its princes” (Isaiah 3:14). It is not written: Of the elders of His people, but rather “with the elders of His people.” He will be sitting with them, and they will judge the idolaters. What does He say to [the idolaters]? “You have consumed the vineyard” (Isaiah 3:14) – this is Israel, as it is written: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel” (Isaiah 5:7). “The theft of the poor [he’ani] is in your houses” (Isaiah 3:14) – and it is written: “For the Lord had founded Zion, and in it the afflicted [aniyei] of His people will take refuge” (Isaiah 14:32).20This proves that the term ani in Isaiah 3:14 is referring to the Jewish people. Likewise, it was the way of the kings to sit in the shape of a round threshing floor, as it is stated: “The king of Israel and Yehoshafat king of Judah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they sat in a threshing floor” (II Chronicles 18:9). Were they sitting in a threshing floor? Rather, as we learned: The Sanhedrin would sit in a semicircular shape like a threshing floor so that they could see each other, and the two judges’ scribes were sitting before them…21Sanhedrin 36b. Solomon said: I saw Him sitting with them and judging in their midst, as it is stated: “Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).22This chapter in Proverbs analogizes Israel and God as a wife and husband. The midrash states that King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, saw with divine spirit the time when God will judge together with the elders.
