Numbers 11:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moses found the burden of leading Israel too great to sustain on his own. Consequently, God appointed seventy additional leaders, as previously mentioned. The law, represented by Moses, is insufficient to direct us effectively. Thus, these seventy individuals were raised up to supplement what was lacking in the law, symbolizing a complete and perfect number. So, who are these seventy? They are those who followed Moses, chosen by Christ to provide guidance, with the Divine disciples serving as the foundation and patriarchs.

Assemble seventy elders to assist you with the matters concerning the people; “and I will take away of the Spirit that is in you, and I will put it upon them,” so that they will not elevate themselves above you, understanding that they share in the authority that is upon you.

Do not regard me, beloved brother, based solely on the length of my days; do not view gray hair as a sign of wisdom, but instead consider wisdom as the true essence of gray hair, in accordance with Solomon's assertion: a man's gray hair is his wisdom. Moses was instructed to appoint seventy elders; he understood that their selection should not be based on their age, but rather on their wisdom. Likewise, Daniel, even as a youth, judged the older men, while the youthful man condemned the shameless elders. Thus, I urge you once more, do not quantify faith in terms of years, and do not hold me in higher esteem merely because I was among the first to enlist in the ranks of Christ's army.

The Lord instructs Moses to assemble seventy men from among the elders of Israel at the tabernacle. These elders, referred to as such not merely due to their age—though traditionally, they were primarily chosen from the older generation—are recognized for their authority. The presence of elders among the Hebrews in Egypt is evident, as when Moses returned to Egypt from Midian, he conveyed God's will to the elders of Israel, commanding them to lead the people out of Egypt and to confront Pharaoh (Ex. 3:16, 18). The ancient social structure of the Hebrews, similar to that of many nations, was organized around clans, which is why the title of elder was conferred upon the leaders of tribes and clans.