Moshe's Tent and Judgment on the Next Day
Parsha Pages | January 29, 2024
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Moshe's Tent and Judgment on the Next Day

Parsha Pages | December 10, 2025

Moshe’s Tent

שמות יח,ה : וַּי בֹא יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶה וּב נ יו וְאִשְתוֹ אֶל־מֹשֶה אֶל־הַּמִדְב ר אֲ שֶר־הוּא חֹנֶה ש ם הַּר ה אֱלֹקִ ים:
Baal haTurim notes that the word "choneh" also appears in Tehilim (34:8) "The angel of G-d encamps (choneh) around those who fear him." This teaches us that when Yisro arrived in the Camp of Yisrael, he did not need to enquire as to the location of Moshe's tent, since it was marked by the Cloud that surrounded it. (Angelic manifestations come in various forms, one of which is in a cloud formation)

Judgment on the Next Day

שמות יח ,יג : וַּיְהִי מִמ חֳר ת וַּיֵשֶב מֹשֶה לִשְפֹט אֶת־ה ע ם וַּיַּעֲמֹד ה ע ם עַּל־מֹשֶה מִן־הַּבֹקֶר עַּד־ה ע רֶב:
The Baal haTurim states that the Gematria of the word ממחרת (next day) is equivalent to that of 'le'mochor Yom ha'Kipurim' (day after Yom Kippur). The Medrash explains that Moshe came down with the second set of Luchos on Yom Kippur and the next day sat in judgment.
The Baal HaTurim notes that the phrase מִן־הַּבֹּקֶׁר עַּד־הָעָרֶׁב (from morning till evening) does not use a letter “vav” (ועד). This is an allusion to the fact that normally the Bais Din is in session until the sixth hour of the day (letter Vav equals 6). The daytime hours are divided into 12 hours and the end of the sixth hour is middle of the day time. All Poskim agree that the Bais Din sits in session for 5 hours after the Shacharis prayers. Some Poskim say that the Bais Din continues to sit for the entire sixth hour. Others decide that the Bais Din that the session concludes with the beginning of the sixth hour.
The Baal HaTurim notes that the significant of the number six is also reflected in that the root שפט (judge) is repeated six times in this passage.

Moshe’s Tent

שמות יח,ה : וַּי בֹא יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶה וּב נ יו וְאִשְתוֹ אֶל־מֹשֶה אֶל־הַּמִדְב ר אֲ שֶר־הוּא חֹנֶה ש ם הַּר ה אֱלֹקִ ים:
Baal haTurim notes that the word "choneh" also appears in Tehilim (34:8) "The angel of G-d encamps (choneh) around those who fear him." This teaches us that when Yisro arrived in the Camp of Yisrael, he did not need to enquire as to the location of Moshe's tent, since it was marked by the Cloud that surrounded it. (Angelic manifestations come in various forms, one of which is in a cloud formation)

Judgment on the Next Day

שמות יח ,יג : וַּיְהִי מִמ חֳר ת וַּיֵשֶב מֹשֶה לִשְפֹט אֶת־ה ע ם וַּיַּעֲמֹד ה ע ם עַּל־מֹשֶה מִן־הַּבֹקֶר עַּד־ה ע רֶב:
The Baal haTurim states that the Gematria of the word ממחרת (next day) is equivalent to that of 'le'mochor Yom ha'Kipurim' (day after Yom Kippur). The Medrash explains that Moshe came down with the second set of Luchos on Yom Kippur and the next day sat in judgment.
The Baal HaTurim notes that the phrase מִן־הַּבֹּקֶׁר עַּד־הָעָרֶׁב (from morning till evening) does not use a letter “vav” (ועד). This is an allusion to the fact that normally the Bais Din is in session until the sixth hour of the day (letter Vav equals 6). The daytime hours are divided into 12 hours and the end of the sixth hour is middle of the day time. All Poskim agree that the Bais Din sits in session for 5 hours after the Shacharis prayers. Some Poskim say that the Bais Din continues to sit for the entire sixth hour. Others decide that the Bais Din that the session concludes with the beginning of the sixth hour.
The Baal HaTurim notes that the significant of the number six is also reflected in that the root שפט (judge) is repeated six times in this passage.

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