Exodus 18
1599 Geneva Bible
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.
1 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,
2 Then Jethro the father-in-law of Moses, took Zipporah Moses’ wife, (after he had [a]sent her away)
3 And her two sons, (whereof the one was called (B)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 two sons, and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he camped by the [b]mount of God.
6 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.
7 ¶ 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.
8 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.
9 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Exodus 18:6 That is, he sent messengers to say unto him.
- Exodus 18:7 Hebrew, of peace.
- Exodus 18:10 Whereby it is evident that he worshipped the true God, and therefore Moses refused not to marry his daughter.
- Exodus 18:11 For they that drowned the children of the Israelites, perished themselves by water.
- Exodus 18:12 They ate in that place, where the sacrifice was offered: for part was burnt, and the rest eaten.
- Exodus 18:15 That is, to know God’s will, and to have justice executed.
- Exodus 18:18 Hebrew, thou wilt faint and fall.
- Exodus 18:19 Or, counsel.
- Exodus 18:19 Judge thou in hard causes, which cannot be decided but by consulting with God.
- Exodus 18:21 What manner of men ought to be chosen to bear office.
- 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.
- Exodus 18:27 Read the occasion, Num. 10:29.
Exodus 18
Legacy Standard Bible
Jethro’s Counsel
18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (C)two sons, of whom [a]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a [b]sojourner in a foreign land.” 4 [c]And the other was named [d](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [e]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mount of God. 6 And he [f]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 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 of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how (M)Yahweh had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, that He had delivered [g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be Yahweh who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)Yahweh is greater than all the gods; [h]for (Q)in this matter they acted presumptuously 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.
13 Now it happened the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 And Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, so 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 about you from morning until evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a (T)matter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [k]these people who are with you, for the [l]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to my voice: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [m]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the matters to God; 20 (X)then warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they shall go and the work they shall do. 21 But you shall [n]select (Z)excellent men out of all the people, (AA)those who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate greedy gain; and you shall place these men over them as leaders of thousands, [o]of hundreds, [p]of fifties, and [q]of tens. 22 And they will judge the people at all times. And it will be (AC)that every major matter they will bring to you, but every minor matter they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [r]endure, and all [s]these people also will go to [t]their place in peace.”
24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose (AE)excellent men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [u]of hundreds, [v]of fifties, and [w]of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; (AF)the difficult matter they would bring to Moses, but every minor matter they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses [x](AG)let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:3 Lit the name of the one was
- Exodus 18:3 Heb ger
- Exodus 18:4 Lit The name of the other was
- Exodus 18:4 Lit My God is help
- Exodus 18:5 Lit unto
- Exodus 18:6 Lit said
- Exodus 18:9 Lit him
- Exodus 18:11 Lit indeed, in the thing in which they
- Exodus 18:11 Lit them
- Exodus 18:12 Lit bread
- Exodus 18:18 Lit this
- Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
- Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
- Exodus 18:21 Lit see
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:23 Lit stand
- Exodus 18:23 Lit this
- Exodus 18:23 Lit his
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
- Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law
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