Behaalothecha:democracy

This chapter contains the Magna Carta of the Torah.  Moshe says, in a moment of  near suicidal depression, that he cannot alone bear the burden of caring for this people.  Gd's solution is to spread the burden over a council of  70 elders  who will each receive a modicum of prophecy.  That prophecy will devolve from an enhancement of the prophetic abilities of Moshe.  Moshe will no longer be the sole leader. 

This step toward democracy is motivated by the threat of popular revolution.  The people developed an overwhelming desire for meat. Their need for nourishment had been satisfied by the manns, but the desire for flesh was stoked and grew,  It was  a revolution of rising expectations

This solution of distributed leadership has been presented before.  When Moshe brought the Israelites  to Sinai, he met with his father-in-law, Jethro. Jethro told Moshe that he could not alone judge all of the disputes and questions of  the people.  He needed to make a hierarchy  of judges.  The proximity of this recommendation to the giving of the Law on Sinai suggests that The Law would be the basis for this hierarchical judicial system.  The origin of the constitution. 

Moshe's father-in-law appears in this week's parsha, as well.  Moshe invites him to join the Israelites in their travels.  Hobab decides against it.  Moshe tries to convince him to join, saying that he would have a key role. He would be the eyes of the people in the desert.  Once Hobab returns to his ancestral home, the guidance of the heavenly clouds begins,  No need to know what is ahead.  Just follow.  Faith over science.

Bamidbar is a book of envy.  Miriam asserts her equality to Moshe; she, too, is a prophet, she says.  Gd corrects her.  She is a prophet, but Moshe,  the most humble of men,  is the greatest of prophets  Presumably these qualities are connected.  Moshe has been the instrument of the dissemination of prophecy, he has shared power and responsibility.  He has founded democracy.