18:1).</b> Some hear and lose (their reward), while others hear and are rewarded. Joash heard and lost (his reward), just as it is said: <i>Then the king hearkened unto him</i> (II Chron. 24:17), but after that is written: <i>So they executed judgment upon Joash</i> (ibid., v. 24). Similarly, <i>the peoples have heard and they tremble</i> (Exod. 15:14). However, Jethro heard and was rewarded. Though he had been an idolatrous priest, he joined Moses, and entered under the wings of the Shekhinah. For that he became worthy of adding the portion dealing with judges to the Torah of Israel, when he told Moses: <i>The thing that thou doest is not good</i> (ibid. 18:18).
<i>Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people mighty men such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain</i> (ibid., v. 21). This refers to men who were mighty in their devotion to the law, as is said: <i>Ye mighty in strength, that fulfill His word</i> (Ps. 103:20). <i>That fear God</i> should be understood literally. <i>Men of truth</i>, refers to those who rely upon the truth of His law. <i>Hating unjust gain</i> refers to those men who disregard their own wealth, and all the more so disregard the wealth of others (and spurn bribes). He would say: Even though you burn my sheaves, even though you cut down my vineyards, I will judge you justly.