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Israel Defeats the Amalekites

While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

10 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. 12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

14 After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). 16 He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now[a] the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

Jethro’s Visit to Moses

18 Moses’ 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.

Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. (Moses’ first son was named Gershom,[b] for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” His second son was named Eliezer,[c] for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) Jethro, 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. Jethro 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.”

So 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. Moses 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. Jethro 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! 11 I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”

12 Then 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

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.

14 When 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?”

15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When 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. 19 Now 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. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But 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. 22 They 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. 23 If 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.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He 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. 26 These 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.

27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.

The Lord Reveals Himself at Sinai

19 Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt,[d] they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai.

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.”

Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. 13 No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.[e]

14 So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. 15 He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.”

Footnotes

  1. 17:16 Or Hands have been lifted up to the Lord’s throne, and now.
  2. 18:3 Gershom sounds like a Hebrew term that means “a foreigner there.”
  3. 18:4 Eliezer means “God is my helper.”
  4. 19:1 Hebrew In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt. Compare Num 33:3.
  5. 19:13 Or up to the mountain.

Napildi ang mga Amalekanhon

Sa didto pa ang mga Israelinhon sa Refidim, gisulong sila sa mga Amalekanhon. Miingon si Moises kang Josue, “Pagpili ug mga tawo nga makiggira sa mga Amalekanhon. Mobarog ako ugma ibabaw sa bungtod nga dala kadtong baston nga gisugo sa Dios nga kanunay kong dal-on.”

10 Busa nakiggira sila si Josue sa mga Amalekanhon sumala sa gisugo ni Moises samtang si Moises, Aaron, ug Hur mitungas sa bungtod. 11 Kon ibayaw ni Moises ang iyang kamot, modaog ang mga Israelinhon. Apan kon ipaubos niya ang iyang kamot, modaog ang mga Amalekanhon. 12 Apan sa kadugayan, nanghawoy na ang mga kamot ni Moises. Busa mikuhag bato si Aaron ug Hur ug gipalingkoran kini kang Moises. Unya gibayaw ni Aaron ang usa ka kamot ni Moises ug mao usab ang gihimo ni Hur sa pikas kamot hangtod sa pagsalop sa adlaw. 13 Busa napildi nila ni Josue ang mga Amalekanhon.

14 Unya miingon ang Ginoo kang Moises, “Isulat kini sa libro aron dili malimtan ug ipahibalo kini kang Josue: Puohon ko gayod sa hingpit ang mga Amalekanhon.”

15 Naghimo si Moises ug halaran ug gitawag kini nga, “Ang Ginoo mao ang akong Bandera sa Pagdaog.” 16 Miingon siya, “Tungod kay gikumoan sa mga Amalekanhon ang trono sa Ginoo, padayon nga makiggira ang Ginoo batok kanila hangtod sa hangtod.”

Mibisita si Jetro kang Moises

18 Si Jetro nga pari sa Midian ug ugangan ni Moises nakabalita sa tanang gihimo sa Dios kang Moises ug sa iyang katawhan nga mga Israelinhon. Nadunggan niya kon giunsa pagpagawas sa Ginoo ang mga Israelinhon gikan sa Ehipto. 2-3 Sa wala pa kini mahitabo, gipapauli una ni Moises si Zipora nga iyang asawa ug ang duha nila ka anak nga lalaki didto kang Jetro nga iyang ugangan. Ang ngalan sa usa niya ka anak mao si Gershom, kay sa dihang natawo kini miingon si Moises, “Dumuduong ako sa ubang dapit.” Ang ngalan sa usa mao si Eliezer,[a] kay sa dihang natawo kini miingon si Moises, “Ang Dios sa akong amahan[b] mao ang akong magtatabang. Giluwas niya ako gikan sa espada sa hari.”

Unya, miadto si Jetro uban ang asawa ug duha ka anak ni Moises didto sa gikampohan nila ni Moises sa kamingawan, duol sa bukid sa Dios. Nagpahibalo nang daan si Jetro kang Moises nga moabot siya uban si Zipora ug ang duha niya ka anak.

Busa gitagbo ni Moises ang iyang ugangan, ug miyukbo siya ug mihalok agig pagtahod kaniya. Nagkinumustahanay sila ug unya nanulod sa tolda. Gisulti ni Moises kang Jetro ang tanang gihimo sa Ginoo ngadto sa hari sa Ehipto ug sa mga Ehiptohanon alang sa mga Israelinhon. Gisulti usab niya ang tanang kalisod nga ilang naagian sa ilang paglakaw, ug kon giunsa sila pagluwas sa Ginoo.

Nalipay pag-ayo si Jetro sa tanang kaayo nga gihimo sa Ginoo sa mga Israelinhon sa iyang pagluwas kanila gikan sa kamot sa mga Ehiptohanon. 10 Miingon si Jetro, “Dalaygon ang Ginoo nga nagluwas kaninyo gikan sa kamot sa mga Ehiptohanon ug sa ilang hari. 11 Karon nahibaloan ko na nga ang Ginoo mas labaw sa tanang mga dios, kay giluwas niya ang mga Israelinhon sa mga Ehiptohanon nga midaog-daog kanila.” 12 Unya naghalad si Jetro ug mga halad nga sinunog ug uban pa nga mga halad ngadto sa Dios. Ug samtang ginahimo niya kini, miabot si Aaron ug ang tanang tigdumala sa Israel. Nakig-uban sila kang Jetro sa pagpangaon diha sa presensya sa Dios.

Nagpili si Moises ug mga Maghuhukom

(Deu. 1:9-18)

13 Pagkasunod adlaw, milingkod si Moises ingon nga maghuhukom aron sa paghusay sa mga kaso sa mga tawo. Nagalinya ang mga tawo sa iyang atubangan gikan sa buntag hangtod sa gabii. 14 Sa pagkakita niini ni Jetro, miingon siya kang Moises, “Nganong ginahimo mo kini alang sa mga tawo? Nganong ikaw lang ang nagahimo niini? Nagalinya ang mga tawo sa imong atubangan gikan pa sa buntag hangtod sa gabii.”

15 Mitubag si Moises, “Ginahimo ko kini tungod kay nagaduol ang mga tawo kanako sa pagpakisayod sa kabubut-on sa Dios. 16 Kon may ginalalisan ang mga tawo, ginadala nila kini kanako, ug ako ang nagahukom kon kinsay husto kanila. Ug ginatudloan ko sila sa mga tulumanon ug mga kasugoan sa Dios.” 17 Miingon si Jetro, “Dili husto ang imong pamaagi sa paghimo niini. 18 Gilisod-lisod mo lang pag-ayo ang imong kaugalingon ug kining mga tawo. Bug-at ra kaayo kini alang kanimo; dili mo kini mahimo nga mag-inusara lang. 19 Paminaw kanako kay tambagan ko ikaw, ug hinaut pa nga ubanan ka sa Dios. Padayona ang imong ginahimo nga pagduol sa Dios alang sa mga tawo. Dad-a ang ilang mga kaso kaniya. 20 Padayona usab ang imong pagtudlo kanila sa mga tulumanon ug mga kasugoan sa Dios. Tudloi sila kon unsaon pagkinabuhi ug kon unsay angay nilang himuon. 21 Apan pagpili ug mga tawo nga motabang kanimo sa paghukom. Kinahanglan may katakos sila sa paghukom, may kahadlok sa Dios, kasaligan, ug dili modawat ug suborno. Himoa sila nga mga maghuhukom sa grupo sa mga tawo nga tagsa ka libo, tag-gatos, tag-singkwenta, ug tag-napulo. 22 Mag-alagad sila ingon nga maghuhukom sa tanang panahon. Sila ang mohusay sa simple nga mga kaso, apan ang lisod nga mga kaso dad-on nila kanimo. Niining paagiha, magaan-gaanan ang imong trabaho ug makatabang sila kanimo. 23 Nasayod ako nga mao kini ang gusto sa Ginoo nga imong himuon, ug kon tumanon mo kini dili ka malisdan. Ug kining mga tawhana makapauli nga malinawon.”

24 Gituman ni Moises ang gitambag kaniya sa iyang ugangan. 25 Nagpili siya gikan sa mga Israelinhon ug mga tawo nga may katakos sa paghukom, ug gihimo niya sila nga mga maghuhukom sa grupo sa mga tawo nga 1,000, 100, 50, ug 10. 26 Nagaalagad sila sa mga tawo ingon nga mga maghuhukom sa tanang panahon. Sila ang nagahusay sa simple nga mga kaso, apan ang lisod nga mga kaso ginadala nila kang Moises.

27 Unya, gipabalik ni Moises ang iyang ugangan ngadto sa iyang kaugalingong nasod.

Ang mga Israelinhon sa Bukid sa Sinai

19 1-2 Mibiya ang mga Israelinhon sa Refidim ug miadto sa kamingawan sa Sinai. Didto sila nagkampo atubangan sa bukid. Ikatulo kadto nga bulan sukad sa pagbiya nila sa Ehipto. Mitungas si Moises sa bukid aron makigkita sa Dios. Mitawag ang Ginoo kaniya gikan sa bukid ug miingon, “Mao kini ang imong isulti sa mga Israelinhon nga mga kaliwat ni Jacob: Nakita ninyo mismo ang gihimo ko sa mga Ehiptohanon ug kon giunsa ko kamo pagdala dinhi kanako, sama sa pagdala sa usa ka agila sa iyang mga piso diha sa iyang mga pako. Kon tumanon ninyo ako sa hingpit ug mosunod sa akong kasabotan, mahimo kamong akong katawhan nga pinili gikan sa tanang mga nasod. Akoy tag-iya sa tibuok kalibotan, ug kamo mahimong usa ka gingharian sa mga pari ug usa ka nasod nga gilain alang kanako. Mao kini ang isulti ngadto sa mga Israelinhon.”

Busa milugsong si Moises sa bukid ug gipatawag niya ang mga tigdumala sa mga Israelinhon ug gisultihan niya sila sa giingon sa Ginoo. Unya nagdungan silang tanan sa pagtubag, “Tumanon namo ang tanang gisugo sa Ginoo.” Ug gisulti ni Moises sa Ginoo ang tubag sa mga tawo.

Miingon ang Ginoo kang Moises, “Moanha ako kanimo pinaagi sa bagang panganod aron makadungog ang mga tawo samtang makigsulti ako kanimo. Ug unya kanunay silang motuo kanimo.”

Gisulti ni Moises sa Ginoo ang tubag sa mga tawo, 10 ug miingon ang Ginoo kaniya, “Adtoa ang mga tawo ug ingna sila nga manghinlo sila sa ilang kaugalingon[c] karon ug ugma. Kinahanglan labhan nila ang ilang mga bisti. 11 Siguroha nga andam sila sa ikatulong adlaw, kay nianang adlawa, ako, ang Ginoo, mokunsad sa Bukid sa Sinai ug makita ako sa tanang mga tawo. 12 Pagbutang ug mga utlanan libot sa bukid alang sa mga tawo. Ingna sila nga dili gayod sila motungas sa bukid o moduol sa tiilan niini. Si bisan kinsa nga mopaduol sa bukid pagapatyon gayod, 13 tawo man o hayop. Kinahanglan pagapatyon gayod siya pinaagi sa pagbato o pagpana, ug dili hikapon. Kon patingogon na ug dugay ang budyong, mahimo nang motungas sa bukid ang mga tawo.”

14 Milugsong si Moises sa bukid ug gisugo niya ang mga tawo nga manghinlo sa ilang kaugalingon. Ug gilabhan sa mga tawo ang ilang mga bisti. 15 Miingon si Moises kanila, “Pangandam kamo sa inyong kaugalingon alang sa ikatulong adlaw; ayaw una kamo pagpakighilawas sa inyong asawa.”

Footnotes

  1. 18:4 Eliezer: Ang buot ipasabot sa Hebreo, Ang Dios ang akong magtatabang.
  2. 18:4 amahan: o, katigulangan.
  3. 19:10 manghinlo sila sa ilang kaugalingon: Ang buot ipasabot, tumanon nila ang seremonya sa paghinlo.

The Amalekites Defeated

The Amalekites(A) came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.(B) Moses said to Joshua,(C) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff(D) of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur(E) went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,(F) but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.(G) 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite(H) army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write(I) this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out(J) the name of Amalek(K) from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar(L) and called(M) it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against[a] the throne of the Lord,[b] the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites(N) from generation to generation.”(O)

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(P) the priest of Midian(Q) 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.(R)

After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(S) his father-in-law Jethro received her and her two sons.(T) One son was named Gershom,[c] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(U) and the other was named Eliezer,[d](V) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(W) 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(X) 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(Y) and kissed(Z) 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(AA) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(AB) them.

Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(AC) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(AD) 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,(AE) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(AF) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(AG) brought a burnt offering(AH) and other sacrifices(AI) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(AJ) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(AK) 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.(AL) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(AM) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(AN)

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.(AO) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AP) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AQ) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AR) and show them the way they are to live(AS) and how they are to behave.(AT) 21 But select capable men(AU) from all the people—men who fear(AV) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AW)—and appoint them as officials(AX) 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(AY) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AZ) 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(BA) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(BB) 26 They served as judges(BC) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(BD) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(BE)

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

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(BG)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(BH) After they set out from Rephidim,(BI) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(BJ)

Then Moses went up to God,(BK) and the Lord called(BL) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(BM) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(BN) and brought you to myself.(BO) Now if you obey me fully(BP) and keep my covenant,(BQ) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(BR) Although the whole earth(BS) is mine, you[e] will be for me a kingdom of priests(BT) and a holy nation.’(BU) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went back and summoned the elders(BV) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(BW) The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(BX) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(BY) so that the people will hear me speaking(BZ) with you and will always put their trust(CA) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(CB) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(CC) 11 and be ready by the third day,(CD) because on that day the Lord will come down(CE) on Mount Sinai(CF) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(CG) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(CH) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(CI) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(CJ)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(CK) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(CL) from sexual relations.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 17:16 Or to
  2. Exodus 17:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  3. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  4. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
  5. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. You