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Exodus 18
New Catholic Bible
Exodus 18
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 18
Moses Visited by His Father-in-Law.[a] 1 Jethro, the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses, came to know what God had done for Moses and for Israel, his people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Jethro brought Zipporah, the wife of Moses, with him, for he had sent her back to him, 3 and also her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for he had said, “I am a stranger in a strange land,” 4 and the other named Eliezer, for he had said, “The God of my father has come to my assistance and has freed me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, and the sons and wife of Moses came to him in the desert where he was camped, near the mountain of God. 6 He had it announced to Moses, “It is I, Jethro, your father-in-law. I have come with your wife and your two sons.”
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed before him and kissed him. They inquired about each other’s health, and then went into their tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law what the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for the children of Israel, and also about all the difficulties that they had encountered during their journey, and from which the Lord had delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the blessings that the Lord had shown to Israel when he liberated it from the hands of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who freed you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of Pharaoh. He delivered this people from the hands of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is the greatest of all gods because of what he has done to the Egyptians. He delivered them from their hands when they acted arrogantly.”
12 Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, offered a burnt offering and sacrificed to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came and ate a banquet with the father-in-law of Moses before God.
13 Moses Institutes the Judges.[b] The next day Moses sat in judgment over the people of Israel. All the people stood before Moses from morning until the evening. 14 Jethro, seeing what he was doing for the people, said to him, “What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit in judgment alone, while the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses answered his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire the will of God. 16 When they have some question, they come to me and I judge the matter between them and let them know the statutes of God and his laws.”
17 The father-in-law of Moses told him, “What you are doing is no good. 18 You will surely wear yourself out, you and the people with you, because this job is too difficult for you. You cannot do it alone. 19 Now, listen to me. I wish to give you some advice, and God be with you. You must act as the people’s representative before God and bring their cases before him. 20 You will explain the decrees and the laws to them. You will direct them along the way that they should go and teach the things that they must do. 21 You will also choose virtuous men who fear God from among the people, honest men who are not filled with greed, and you will make them leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 They must judge the people at all times. When there is an important matter, they will refer it to you, but they will judge all the minor issues. Thus, they will lighten the burden upon you, for they will carry it with you. 23 If you do this thing and if God commands this of you, then you will be able to continue and this people will arrive in peace at its destination.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s suggestion, and he did what he had suggested that he do. 25 Moses chose capable men from among all the men of Israel, and he appointed them as leaders of the people, as leaders of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. When there was a difficult matter, they referred it to Moses, but they themselves judged all the minor issues. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and Jethro returned to his own country.
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:1 This passage is probably not in its correct place, since it says that the meeting took place near Mount Sinai. It is part of traditions according to which all links were not broken between the pagan peoples and the God of Israel.
- Exodus 18:13 Set free, Israel becomes an autonomous people that requires them to be organized. Through the counsel of Jethro and his wise advice to Moses, the Midianite people serve as a model for them.
Éxodo 18
La Biblia de las Américas
Éxodo 18
La Biblia de las Américas
Visita de Jetro a Moisés
18 Y Jetro (A), sacerdote de Madián, suegro de Moisés, oyó de todo lo que Dios había hecho por Moisés y por su pueblo Israel, cómo el Señor había sacado a Israel de Egipto. 2 Entonces Jetro, suegro de Moisés, tomó a Séfora(B), mujer de Moisés, después que este la había enviado a su casa, 3 y a sus dos hijos, uno de los cuales se llamaba Gersón[a], pues Moisés había dicho: He sido peregrino en tierra extranjera(C), 4 y el nombre del otro era Eliezer[b](D), pues había dicho: El Dios de mi padre fue mi ayuda(E) y me libró de la espada de Faraón. 5 Y vino Jetro, suegro de Moisés, con los hijos y la mujer de Moisés al desierto, donde este estaba acampado junto al monte de Dios(F). 6 Y mandó decir[c] a Moisés: Yo, tu suegro Jetro, vengo a ti con tu mujer y sus dos hijos con ella. 7 Salió Moisés a recibir a su suegro, se inclinó(G) y lo besó(H); y se preguntaron uno a otro cómo estaban[d](I), y entraron en la tienda. 8 Y Moisés contó a su suegro todo lo que el Señor había hecho a Faraón y a los egipcios por amor a Israel(J), todas las dificultades que les habían sobrevenido en el camino(K) y cómo los había librado el Señor(L). 9 Y se alegró Jetro de todo el bien que el Señor había hecho a Israel(M), al librarlo de la mano de los egipcios. 10 Entonces Jetro dijo: Bendito sea el Señor que os libró de la mano de los egipcios y de la mano de Faraón, y que libró al pueblo del poder[e] de los egipcios(N). 11 Ahora sé que el Señor es más grande que todos los dioses(O); ciertamente, esto se probó cuando trataron al pueblo[f] con arrogancia(P). 12 Y Jetro, suegro de Moisés, tomó un holocausto y sacrificios para Dios, y Aarón vino con todos los ancianos de Israel a comer[g](Q) con el suegro de Moisés delante de Dios.
Nombramiento de jueces
13 Y aconteció que al día siguiente Moisés se sentó a juzgar al pueblo(R); y el pueblo estuvo delante de Moisés desde la mañana hasta el atardecer. 14 Cuando el suegro de Moisés vio todo lo que él hacía por el pueblo, dijo: ¿Qué es esto que haces por el pueblo? ¿Por qué juzgas[h] tú solo, y todo el pueblo está delante de ti desde la mañana hasta el atardecer? 15 Y respondió Moisés a su suegro: Porque el pueblo viene a mí para consultar a Dios(S). 16 Cuando tienen un pleito[i](T), vienen a mí, y yo juzgo entre uno y otro[j], dándoles a conocer los estatutos de Dios y sus leyes. 17 Y el suegro de Moisés le dijo: No está bien lo que haces. 18 Con seguridad desfallecerás tú, y también este pueblo que está contigo, porque el trabajo[k] es demasiado pesado para ti; no puedes hacerlo tú solo(U). 19 Ahora, escúchame[l]; yo te aconsejaré, y Dios estará contigo. Sé tú el representante del[m] pueblo delante de Dios, y somete los asuntos a Dios(V). 20 Y enséñales los estatutos y las leyes, y hazles saber el camino en que deben andar(W) y la obra que han de realizar(X). 21 Además, escogerás[n] de entre todo el pueblo hombres capaces, temerosos de Dios(Y), hombres veraces que aborrezcan las ganancias deshonestas(Z), y los pondrás sobre el pueblo[o] como jefes de mil, de[p] cien, de[q] cincuenta y de[r] diez(AA). 22 Y que juzguen ellos al pueblo en todo tiempo; y que traigan a ti todo pleito grave[s], pero que ellos juzguen todo pleito sencillo[t](AB). Así será más fácil para ti, y ellos llevarán la carga contigo(AC). 23 Si haces esto, y Dios te lo manda, tú podrás resistir[u] y todo este pueblo por su parte irá en paz a su lugar.
24 Moisés escuchó a[v] su suegro, e hizo todo lo que él había dicho. 25 Y escogió Moisés hombres capaces de entre todo Israel, y los puso por cabezas del pueblo, como jefes de mil, de[w] cien, de[x] cincuenta y de[y] diez(AD). 26 Ellos juzgaban al pueblo en todo tiempo; el pleito[z] difícil lo traían a Moisés, mas todo pleito[aa] sencillo[ab] lo juzgaban ellos(AE). 27 Y Moisés despidió a su suegro, y este se fue a su tierra(AF).
Footnotes
- Éxodo 18:3 I.e., soy peregrino allí
- Éxodo 18:4 I.e., mi Dios es ayuda
- Éxodo 18:6 Lit., Y dijo
- Éxodo 18:7 O, por su bienestar
- Éxodo 18:10 Lit., de bajo la mano
- Éxodo 18:11 Lit., ciertamente en lo que trataron contra ellos
- Éxodo 18:12 Lit., comer pan
- Éxodo 18:14 Lit., te sientas
- Éxodo 18:16 Lit., un asunto
- Éxodo 18:16 Lit., entre un hombre y su prójimo
- Éxodo 18:18 Lit., asunto
- Éxodo 18:19 Lit., escucha mi voz
- Éxodo 18:19 Lit., Sé tú por el
- Éxodo 18:21 Lit., verás
- Éxodo 18:21 Lit., ellos
- Éxodo 18:21 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:21 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:21 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:22 Lit., asunto grande
- Éxodo 18:22 Lit., asunto pequeño
- Éxodo 18:23 Lit., permanecer
- Éxodo 18:24 Lit., la voz de
- Éxodo 18:25 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:25 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:25 Lit., jefes de
- Éxodo 18:26 Lit., asunto
- Éxodo 18:26 Lit., asunto
- Éxodo 18:26 Lit., asunto pequeño
Exodus 18
New International Version
Exodus 18
New International Version
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)
2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) 4 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.”
5 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. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 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. 8 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.
9 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
- Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
- Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
New International Version (NIV) 
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