Discovery BoxExodus 18:26 
Context18:26 They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring 1 to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.
Exodus 18:22
Context18:22 They will judge 2 the people under normal circumstances, 3 and every difficult case 4 they will bring to you, but every small case 5 they themselves will judge, so that 6 you may make it easier for yourself, 7 and they will bear the burden 8 with you.
1 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.
2 tn The form is the perfect tense with the vav (ו) consecutive, making it equivalent to the imperfect of instruction in the preceding verse.
3 tn Heb “in every time,” meaning “in all normal cases” or “under normal circumstances.” The same phrase occurs in v. 26.
4 tn Heb “great thing.”
5 tn Heb “thing.”
6 tn The vav here shows the result or the purpose of the instructions given.
7 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.
8 tn Here “the burden” has been supplied.
