Exodus 18
18
Jethro’s Visit to Moses
1Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt.
2Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. 3(Moses’ first son was named Gershom,#18:3 Gershom sounds like a Hebrew term that means “a foreigner there.” for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” 4His second son was named Eliezer,#18:4 Eliezer means “God is my helper.” for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. 6Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.”
7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. 9Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10“Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! 11I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”
12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence.
Jethro’s Wise Advice
13The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”
15Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”
17“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.
27Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.
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Exodus 18: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Exodus 18
18
Jethro’s Advice
1And #Ex. 2:16, 18; 3:1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that #(Ps. 106:2, 8)God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took #Ex. 2:21; 4:20–26Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3with her #Ex. 2:20; 4:20; Acts 7:29two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, #Ex. 2:22“I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) 4and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my #Gen. 49:25help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); 5and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at #Ex. 3:1, 12; 4:27; 24:13the mountain of God. 6Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”
7So Moses #Gen. 18:2went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and #Gen. 29:13; Ex. 4:27kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. 8And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had #Ex. 15:6, 16; Ps. 81:7delivered them. 9Then Jethro rejoiced for all the #(Is. 63:7–14)good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10And Jethro said, #Gen. 14:20; 2 Sam. 18:28; 1 Kin. 8:56; Ps. 68:19, 20“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the Lord is #Ex. 12:12; 15:11; 2 Chr. 2:5; Ps. 95:3; 97:9; 135:5greater than all the gods; #Ex. 1:10, 16, 22; 5:2, 7for in the very thing in which they behaved #Luke 1:51proudly, He was above them.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt #Ex. 24:5offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel #Gen. 31:54; Deut. 12:7to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses #Deut. 33:4, 5; Matt. 23:2sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because #Lev. 24:12; Num. 9:6, 8; 27:5; Deut. 17:8–13the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have #Ex. 24:14; Deut. 19:17a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; #Num. 11:14, 17; Deut. 1:12you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand #Ex. 4:16; 20:19before God for the people, so that you may #Num. 9:8; 27:5bring the difficulties to God. 20And you shall #Deut. 5:1teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and #Deut. 1:18the work they must do. 21Moreover you shall select from all the people #Ex. 18:24, 25; Deut. 1:13, 15; 2 Chr. 19:5–10; Ps. 15:1–5; Acts 6:3able men, such as #Gen. 42:18; 2 Sam. 23:3fear God, #Ezek. 18:8men of truth, #Deut. 16:19hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22And let them judge the people at all times. #Lev. 24:11; Deut. 1:17Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for #Num. 11:17they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their #Ex. 16:29place in peace.”
24So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25And #Ex. 18:21; Deut. 1:15Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26So they judged the people at all times; the #Job 29:16hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and #Num. 10:29, 30he went his way to his own land.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.