Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, and her (C)two sons, [a]one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a stranger in a foreign land.” And [b]the other was named [c](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [d]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mountain of God. And he [e]sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how (M)the Lord had rescued them. And Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, [f]in rescuing [g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, [h](Q)it was proven when they acted insolently against [i]the people.” 12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [j]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Counsels Moses

13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [k](T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [l]these people who are with you, because the [m]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [n]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [o]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the [p]disputes to God, 20 (X)then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [q]select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [r]of hundreds, [s]of fifties, and [t]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [u]endure, and all [v]these people also will go to [w]their places in peace.”

24 So Moses listened [x]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [y]of hundreds, [z]of fifties, and [aa]of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; (AF)they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [ab](AG)said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [ac]Jethro went his way to his own land.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Lit the name of the one was
  2. Exodus 18:4 Lit The name of the other was
  3. Exodus 18:4 Heb El-ezer; i.e., my God is help
  4. Exodus 18:5 Lit unto
  5. Exodus 18:6 Lit said
  6. Exodus 18:9 Lit in that He had delivered
  7. Exodus 18:9 Lit him
  8. Exodus 18:11 Lit in the thing in which they acted
  9. Exodus 18:11 Lit them
  10. Exodus 18:12 Lit bread
  11. Exodus 18:16 Lit matter
  12. Exodus 18:18 Lit this
  13. Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
  14. Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice
  15. Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
  16. Exodus 18:19 Lit matters
  17. Exodus 18:21 Lit see
  18. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  19. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  20. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  21. Exodus 18:23 Lit stand
  22. Exodus 18:23 Lit this
  23. Exodus 18:23 Lit his
  24. Exodus 18:24 Lit to the voice of
  25. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  26. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  27. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  28. Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law
  29. Exodus 18:27 Lit he

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(A) the priest of Midian(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(C)

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) and the other was named Eliezer,[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(I) of God. Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(J) and kissed(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(M) them.

Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(Q) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(R) brought a burnt offering(S) and other sacrifices(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(V) of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(W) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(Y)

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(Z) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AB) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AC) and show them the way they are to live(AD) and how they are to behave.(AE) 21 But select capable men(AF) from all the people—men who fear(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AH)—and appoint them as officials(AI) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AK) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(AM) 26 They served as judges(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(AP)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  2. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.