Musar su Esodo 18:21

Yitro's words "עתה ידעתי" "now I know," (Exodus 18,11) reflect this new-found knowledge of Yitro (Cain). Cain had murdered because he did not believe that G–d is a judge, that there is justice in the world, and that there is life after death. The Targum Yonathan says that the word "עתה" represents Yitro's new found insight, and that this is the reason that this portion about the installing of a broadly based system of judges was added at Exodus 18,21. (I have not been able to find this in the Targum Yonathan. Ed) The reason Yitro had entrusted (given) his flock to Moses (Exodus 3,1) was that it was symbolic of the sheep he had stolen from his brother Abel in his previous incarnation, the latter having been a shepherd (Genesis 4,2). Moses had not wanted to accept this flock, believing it to be rightfully Yitro's. The Rabbis do not like someone tending the property of an idol worshipper, since the chances are that such property may have been acquired as payment for services rendered to idols. The Torah therefore stresses צאן יתרו, that the flock was not derived from such sources.

Concerning the first of the five qualities of judges, that of "קשוט עצמך," i.e. "straighten yourself out, etc.," we find in Exodus 18,21 that Yitro gave certain guidelines to Moses regarding these qualities. Beginning with the first one, i.e. "you shall look for אנשי חיל," "you shall look for men of courage," these are a list of qualities which the judge expects those facing him to possess. Courage in this context would be the preparedness to give testimony regardless of unpleasant social or financial consequences for the witness. For this very reason, the very same steadfastness of character is expected of the judge himself, who must not be influenced by flattery, attempts to bribe, etc.When the judge expects a witness to be ירא אלוקים, G–d fearing (the next qualification in that list), the practical meaning is that a witness must not swear to something he is not absolutely sure of (i.e. something that only G–d can be sure of). Similarly the judge must be certain in his own conscience that he has no ulterior motive when arriving at his decision (seeing only G–d can evaluate his conscience).