Yitro: Aliyah 2 and 3

In this Aliyah we have a few numbers:  Thousands (2000) (Alaphim), Hundreds (200) (Maot), 50 (Chamashim), 10, (Aseret) (Shemot 18:22)

Here we are told that Yitro suggests to Moshe that he needs to make leaders and Judges of various sizes of human groupings, so that  he is not overwhelmed by the task of Judging the people.

Having 1 judge for every X Thousand of people makes sense, you need communal cohesion in determining cases and case laws.  Even hundreds makes sense, so that judges themselves are not overwhelmed with thousands of cases.  But then we hear of 50 and 10.  Whats going on here?

Chamashim has a particular connection to the word which also means "Armed" as in a 5th.  The Number 10 in Jewish tradition normally represents the idea of Completeness.  So to have a completely functional "Army", you need leaders at every level.  It doesn't matter if that army is in charge of the physical or spiritual, or legal protection of the Jewish people.  Notice that Thousands and Hundreds, although they literally mean 2,000 and 200, are not talking about a specific number. Only 50 and 10 are specific numbers, and only those 2 numbers are here to teach us the real lesson here.

The upshot is, here the Torah is telling us that a proper working Judicial system is just as important as a properly functioning Army.

Aliyah 3:  The numbers are repeated again in the third aliyah, and they are the only numbers in that Aliyah, so I'm combining the two posts.  The first mention of the numbers is about the "Army". The second mention of the numbers is for Moshe's roll in relation to the "Army".

Moshe can not fight all the battles alone, Just as he sent out Joshua to lead the Jewish people in Battle against Amalek, and Moshe only stood on the hill and raised his arms.  So the same is true with the Mitzvot and laws of the Jewish people.  A proper functioning "Army" of people to understand the law is needed.

Judges are not the only people given to leaders of 10, 50, 100s and Thousands, Commanders of the Military are divided the same way.