Exodus 24:14

And unto the elders he said] viz. before going up into the mount (v.13). The elders are not the seventy mentioned by J in vv.1, 9 (among whom Hur is not named, and who are not likely to have had forensic differences while waiting for Moses" return), but the elders in the camp, who would naturally take the lead during Moses" absence, and who are bidden here not to move (with the camp) from where they are, till he and Joshua return. Perhaps (Nöld., We., Bä.) eldersis even a harmonistic correction for people, suggested by vv.1, 9.

whosoever hath a cause, &c. if during Moses" absence any differences arise among the people, requiring for their settlement the intervention of a judge, they must be referred to Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17:10; Exodus 17:12), as his representatives. The judicial organization established in ch. 18 does not seem to be presupposed; the verse thus supports the conclusion (p. 162) that ch. 18 once stood afterch. 24.

a cause lit. words: see on Exodus 23:8; cf. (for the Heb.) Isaiah 50:8.