Exodus 18
Amplified Bible
Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law
18 Now Jethro (Reuel), 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 Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt], 3 along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb]. 6 He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.” 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the Lord had rescued them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is [a]greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the Lord showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God. 16 When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
Jethro Counsels Moses
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [b]me; [c]I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him. 20 You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22 They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels]. 26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves. 27 Then Moses [d]said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:11 Jethro is affirming that the Lord (Yahweh) proved Himself superior over the Egyptian deities in the plagues and the exodus.
- Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice.
- Exodus 18:19 Instead of speaking directly to Moses, God used Jethro. Jethro’s willingness to speak and Moses’ willingness to listen reflects beautifully on the spiritual and emotional maturity of both men and the value of such a relationship.
- Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law.
Exodus 18
Common English Bible
Sharing the burden of leadership
18 Jethro, Midian’s priest and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for God’s people Israel, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro took with him Zipporah, Moses’ wife whom he had sent away, 3 along with her two sons. One was named Gershom because he said, “I have been an immigrant[a] living in a foreign land.” 4 The other was named Eliezer[b] because he said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper who rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.” 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife back to him in the desert where he had set up camp at God’s mountain. 6 He sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons.” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other how they were doing, and then they went into the tent. 8 Moses then told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel’s behalf, all the difficulty they had on their journey, and how the Lord had rescued them. 9 Jethro was glad about all the good things that the Lord had done for Israel in saving them from the Egyptians’ power.
10 Jethro said, “Bless the Lord who rescued you from the Egyptians’ power and from Pharaoh’s power, who rescued the people from Egypt’s oppressive power. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, because of what happened when the Egyptians plotted against them.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought an entirely burned offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all of Israel’s elders to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in God’s presence.
13 The next day Moses sat as a judge for the people, while the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people are standing around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When a conflict arises between them, they come to me and I judge between the two of them. I also teach them God’s regulations and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing isn’t good. 18 You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can’t do it alone. 19 Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself. 20 Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do. 21 But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load. 23 If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s suggestions and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose capable persons from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people, as officers over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They acted as judges for the people at all times. They would refer the hard cases to Moses, but all of the minor cases they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own country.
Footnotes
- Exodus 18:3 Heb ger sounds like Gershom.
- Exodus 18:4 Or my God is a helper.
出埃及記 18
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
葉忒羅看望摩西
18 摩西的岳父——米甸的祭司葉忒羅，聽說上帝為摩西和祂的子民以色列人所做的一切事——如何帶領他們離開埃及， 2 就帶著女兒西坡拉和兩個外孫去見摩西。西坡拉是摩西的妻子，摩西曾讓她回娘家暫時居住。 3 摩西的兩個兒子一個叫革舜，因為摩西說：「我成了在異鄉寄居的人」； 4 一個叫以利以謝，因為摩西說：「我父親的上帝幫助我，從法老的刀下拯救了我。」 5 摩西的岳父葉忒羅帶著摩西的妻子和兩個兒子來到上帝的山，就是摩西在曠野安營的地方。 6 葉忒羅事先差人把他帶著摩西的妻子和兩個兒子要來的消息通知摩西。 7 摩西出去迎接岳父，向他下拜，與他親吻，彼此問安，然後大家都進了帳篷。 8 摩西把耶和華為拯救以色列人而向法老和埃及人所行的事，以及怎樣救百姓脫離路上遇見的種種困難，都告訴了葉忒羅。 9 葉忒羅為耶和華恩待以色列人、把他們救出埃及而高興， 10 便說：「耶和華當受稱頌，因為祂從埃及人和法老手中拯救了你們，把這百姓從埃及人手中拯救了出來。 11 我現在知道，耶和華比一切神明都偉大，因為祂懲治了虐待這些百姓的狂妄之徒。」
12 摩西的岳父葉忒羅說完，便向上帝獻燔祭及其他祭物。亞倫和以色列的長老都來與他一起在上帝面前吃飯。
13 第二天，摩西坐著審理百姓的糾紛，百姓從早到晚都站在摩西周圍。 14 摩西的岳父葉忒羅看見摩西對百姓所行的一切，就對摩西說：「你為什麼這樣處理百姓的事？為什麼你獨自坐著，眾百姓從早到晚都站在你周圍？」 15 摩西對岳父說：「他們是來求問上帝的， 16 我親自審理他們中間的是非，教他們認識上帝的律例和法度。」 17 摩西的岳父葉忒羅勸摩西說：「這不是好方法， 18 你和這些百姓都會疲憊不堪，你一個人無法擔當如此繁重的工作。 19 你要聽我的勸告，願上帝與你同在。你要做百姓的代表，把案件奏明上帝， 20 又要教導他們律例和法度，指示他們當行的道、當做的事。 21 此外，要在百姓當中挑選一些敬畏上帝、有才幹、誠實、正直、憎惡不義之財的人，派他們做千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長和十夫長，管理百姓。 22 讓他們隨時為百姓判案，處理小糾紛，遇到大事才由你審理。有他們分擔你的責任，你會更輕省。 23 如果你這樣做，並且上帝也這樣吩咐你，你就能承受得住，百姓也可以平安地回家。」
24 於是，摩西接納了岳父的建議，依言而行， 25 從百姓中挑選有才幹的人，委派他們做千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長和十夫長管理百姓。 26 他們負責隨時審理百姓的事，遇到難斷的案件就呈到摩西那裡，自己則審理普通的事。 27 之後，摩西送岳父上路，他就返回了家鄉。
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