18 1 Jethro cometh to see Moses his son-in-law.  8 Moses telleth him of the wonders of Egypt.  9 Jethro rejoiceth and offereth sacrifice to God. 21 What manner of men officers and judges ought to be. 24 Moses obeyeth Jethro’s counsel in appointing officers.

When Jethro the (A)Priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt,

Then Jethro the father-in-law of Moses, took Zipporah Moses’ wife, (after he had [a]sent her away)

And her two sons, (whereof the one was called (B)Gershom: for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

And the name of the other was Eliezer: for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh).

And Jethro Moses’ father-in-law came with his two sons, and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he camped by the [b]mount of God.

And he [c]said to Moses, I thy father-in-law Jethro am come to thee, and thy wife and her two sons with her.

¶ And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him, and each asked other of his [d]welfare: and they came into the tent.

Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come unto them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

And Jethro rejoiced at all the goodness, which the Lord had showed to Israel, and because he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 Therefore Jethro said, [e]Blessed be the Lord who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh: who hath also delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods: for as they have dealt (C)proudly with them, so are they [f]recompensed.

12 Then Jethro Moses’ father-in-law took burnt offerings and sacrifices, to offer unto God. And Aaron and all the Elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law [g]before God.

13 ¶ Now on the morrow, when Moses sat to judge the people, the people stood about Moses from morning unto even.

14 And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to seek [h]God.

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me, and I judge between one and another, and declare the ordinances of God, and his laws.

17 But Moses’ father-in-law said unto him, The thing which thou doest, is not well.

18 Thou both [i]weariest thyself greatly, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee: (D)thou art not able to do it thyself alone.

19 Hear now my [j]voice, (I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee) be thou for the people to [k]Godward, and report thou the causes unto God,

20 And admonish them of the ordinances, and of the laws, and show them the way, wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover, provide thou among all the people [l]men of courage, fearing God, men dealing truly, hating covetousness: and appoint such over them to be rulers over thousands, rulers over hundreds, rulers over fifties, and rulers over tens.

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: but every great matter let them bring unto thee, and let them judge all small causes: so shall it be easier for thee, when they shall bear the burden with thee.

23 If thou do this thing, (and God so command thee) both thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go quietly to their place.

24 So Moses [m]obeyed the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said:

25 And Moses chose men of courage out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers over thousands, rulers over hundreds, rulers over fifties, and rulers over tens.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons, but they brought the hard causes to Moses: for they judged all small matters themselves.

27 Afterward Moses [n]let his father-in-law depart, and he went into his country.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:2 It may seem that he sent her back for a time to her father for her impatience, lest she should be a let to his vocation, which was so dangerous, Exod. 4:25.
  2. Exodus 18:5 Horeb is called the mount of God, because God wrought many miracles there. So Peter calleth the mount where Christ was transfigured, the holy mount: for by Christ’s presence it was holy for a time, 2 Pet. 1:18.
  3. Exodus 18:6 That is, he sent messengers to say unto him.
  4. Exodus 18:7 Hebrew, of peace.
  5. Exodus 18:10 Whereby it is evident that he worshipped the true God, and therefore Moses refused not to marry his daughter.
  6. Exodus 18:11 For they that drowned the children of the Israelites, perished themselves by water.
  7. Exodus 18:12 They ate in that place, where the sacrifice was offered: for part was burnt, and the rest eaten.
  8. Exodus 18:15 That is, to know God’s will, and to have justice executed.
  9. Exodus 18:18 Hebrew, thou wilt faint and fall.
  10. Exodus 18:19 Or, counsel.
  11. Exodus 18:19 Judge thou in hard causes, which cannot be decided but by consulting with God.
  12. Exodus 18:21 What manner of men ought to be chosen to bear office.
  13. Exodus 18:24 Godly counsel ought ever to be obeyed, though it come of our inferiors, for to such God oftentimes giveth wisdom to humble them that are exalted, and to declare that one member hath need of another.
  14. Exodus 18:27 Read the occasion, Num. 10:29.

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.