Exodus 18
Living Bible
18 Word soon reached Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, the priest of Midian, about all the wonderful things God had done for his people and for Moses, and how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt.
2 Then Jethro took Moses’ wife, Zipporah, to him (for he had sent her home), 3 along with Moses’ two sons, Gershom (meaning “foreigner,” for Moses said when he was born, “I have been wandering in a foreign land”) 4 and Eliezer (meaning “God is my help,” for Moses said at his birth, “The God of my fathers was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5-6 They arrived while Moses and the people were camped at Mount Sinai.[a]
“Jethro, your father-in-law, has come to visit you,” Moses was told, “and he has brought your wife and your two sons.”
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and greeted him warmly; they asked about each other’s health and then went into Moses’ tent to talk further. 8 Moses related to his father-in-law all that had been happening and what the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians in order to deliver Israel, and all the problems there had been along the way, and how the Lord had delivered his people from all of them. 9 Jethro was very happy about everything the Lord had done for Israel, and about his bringing them out of Egypt.
10 “Bless the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has saved you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, and has rescued Israel. 11 I know now that the Lord is greater than any other god because he delivered his people from the proud and cruel Egyptians.”
12 Jethro offered sacrifices to God,[b] and afterwards Aaron and the leaders of Israel came to meet Jethro, and they all ate the sacrificial meal together before the Lord.
13 The next day Moses sat as usual to hear the people’s complaints against each other, from morning to evening.
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw how much time this was taking, he said, “Why are you trying to do all this alone, with people standing here all day long to get your help?”
15-16 “Well, because the people come to me with their disputes, to ask for God’s decisions,” Moses told him. “I am their judge, deciding who is right and who is wrong, and instructing them in God’s ways. I apply the laws of God to their particular disputes.”
17 “It’s not right!” his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and if you do, what will happen to the people? Moses, this job is too heavy a burden for you to try to handle all by yourself. 19-20 Now listen, and let me give you a word of advice, and God will bless you: Be these people’s lawyer—their representative before God—bringing him their questions to decide; you will tell them his decisions, teaching them God’s laws, and showing them the principles of godly living.
21 “Find some capable, godly, honest men who hate bribes, and appoint them as judges, one judge for each 1000 people; he in turn will have ten judges under him, each in charge of a hundred; and under each of them will be two judges, each responsible for the affairs of fifty people; and each of these will have five judges beneath him, each counseling ten persons. 22 Let these men be responsible to serve the people with justice at all times. Anything that is too important or complicated can be brought to you. But the smaller matters they can take care of themselves. That way it will be easier for you because you will share the burden with them. 23 If you follow this advice, and if the Lord agrees, you will be able to endure the pressures, and there will be peace and harmony in the camp.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed this suggestion. 25 He chose able men from all over Israel and made them judges over the people—thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They were constantly available to administer justice. They brought the hard cases to Moses but judged the smaller matters themselves.
27 Soon afterwards Moses let his father-in-law return to his own land.
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:5 Mount Sinai, or “Mount Horeb”; literally, “the mountain of God.”
- Exodus 18:12 sacrifices to God, literally, “a burnt offering and sacrifices for God.”
Exodus 18
King James Version
18 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;
2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
4 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:
5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8 And 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 upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses 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.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
Éxodo 18
Nueva Biblia Viva
Jetro visita a Moisés
18 Jetro, suegro de Moisés y sacerdote de Madián, supo las maravillosas cosas que el Señor había hecho por su pueblo Israel y por Moisés, y cómo el Señor los había sacado de Egipto.
2 Tiempo antes, cuando Moisés tuvo que enviar a Séfora, su esposa, a la región de Madián, Jetro la recibió en su casa, 3 junto con sus dos hijos, Guersón, que significa extranjero, porque Moisés había dicho cuando nació: «He estado peregrinando en tierra extranjera», 4 y Eliezer, que significa ayuda, porque Moisés había dicho cuando nació: «El Dios de mi padre fue quien me ayudó, y me libró de la espada del faraón».
5-6 Jetro tomó, pues, a Séfora y a sus dos nietos, y se fue al desierto a visitar a Moisés. Cuando supo que los israelitas estaban acampando junto a la montaña de Dios, le envió este mensaje a Moisés: «Yo, Jetro, tu suegro, voy a visitarte. Conmigo vienen tu esposa y tus dos hijos».
7 Moisés salió a recibir a su suegro con mucho cariño. Se preguntaron sobre la salud de uno y otro, y luego entraron en la tienda de Moisés, para seguir conversando. 8 Moisés le contó a su suegro todo lo que había estado ocurriendo, y lo que el Señor les había hecho al faraón y a los egipcios, para librar a Israel. También le contó todos los problemas que habían tenido en el camino, y la forma en que el Señor había librado a su pueblo de todos ellos.
9 Jetro se sintió muy feliz con todo lo que el Señor estaba haciendo por Israel, y de que los hubiera sacado de Egipto. 10 Y exclamó: «¡Bendito sea el Señor, porque te ha salvado de los egipcios y del faraón, y ha rescatado a Israel! 11 Yo sé que el Señor es mayor que cualquier otro dios, porque libró a su pueblo de la soberbia y de la crueldad de los egipcios». 12 Luego, Jetro ofreció sacrificios a Dios. Aarón y los líderes de Israel fueron a ver a Jetro, y todos juntos comieron del sacrificio delante de Dios.
13 Al día siguiente, como de costumbre, Moisés se sentó desde la mañana hasta la tarde a escuchar los problemas que la gente venía a contarle. Mientras Moisés atendía a unos, los demás permanecían de pie. 14 Cuando Jetro vio la manera como Moisés atendía al pueblo, le dijo:
―¿Por qué estás tratando de hacer todo esto tú solo, y la gente tiene que estar parada todo el día esperando a que la atiendas?
15-16 ―Porque el pueblo viene a mí con sus problemas para consultar a Dios —respondió Moisés—. Yo soy el juez y debo decidir quién tiene la razón y quién está equivocado. Además, debo enseñarles los mandamientos y enseñanzas de Dios.
17 ―No está bien —le dijo su suegro—. 18 Te vas a agotar, y entonces ¿qué le ocurrirá a tu pueblo? Esto es demasiado trabajo para tratar de llevarlo tú solo. 19-20 Escúchame y permíteme darte un consejo, para que Dios te bendiga. Sé el abogado de este pueblo, su representante delante de Dios, para que Dios resuelva sus problemas. Tú les comunicarás las decisiones de Dios, les enseñarás sus leyes, y les darás a conocer los principios que deben seguir para tener una conducta correcta.
21 »Busca a algunos hombres capaces, piadosos y honestos, que odien el soborno, y desígnalos como jueces. Nombra un juez para cada mil personas. Y él, a su vez, tendrá a su cargo diez jueces; y cada uno de estos estará a cargo de cien personas. Bajo cada uno de los jueces de cien habrá dos jueces, cada uno a cargo de cincuenta personas. Y cada uno de estos tendrá cinco jueces a su cargo, uno para cada diez personas. 22 Deja que estos hombres se encarguen de administrar justicia. Cualquier cosa que sea muy importante o complicada, pueden traértela a ti. Pero en los asuntos menores, ellos pueden decidir por sí mismos. De este modo será todo más fácil para ti, porque tú compartirás la carga con ellos. 23 Si sigues mi consejo, y si al Señor le parece bien, podrás soportar todas las presiones, y habrá paz y armonía en el campamento».
24 Moisés escuchó atentamente el consejo de su suegro y siguió sus sugerencias. 25 Escogió hombres capaces y los designó jueces del pueblo, jueces de mil, de cien, de cincuenta y de diez. 26 Estaban constantemente disponibles para administrar justicia. Los casos más difíciles los referían a Moisés, pero ellos juzgaban todos los casos menores.
27 Poco después, Moisés despidió a su suegro, quien regresó a su tierra.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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