Exodus 18
New American Standard Bible
Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law
18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (C)two sons, [a]one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 And [b]the other was named [c](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [d]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mountain of God. 6 And he [e]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 about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how (M)the Lord had rescued them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, [f]in rescuing [g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, [h](Q)it was proven when they acted insolently 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.
Jethro Counsels Moses
13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, 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 before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [k](T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [l]these people who are with you, because the [m]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [n]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [o]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the [p]disputes to God, 20 (X)then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [q]select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [r]of hundreds, [s]of fifties, and [t]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [u]endure, and all [v]these people also will go to [w]their places in peace.”
24 So Moses listened [x]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [y]of hundreds, [z]of fifties, and [aa]of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; (AF)they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [ab](AG)said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [ac]Jethro went his way to his own land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 18:3 Lit the name of the one was
- Exodus 18:4 Lit The name of the other was
- Exodus 18:4 Heb El-ezer; i.e., my God is help
- Exodus 18:5 Lit unto
- Exodus 18:6 Lit said
- Exodus 18:9 Lit in that He had delivered
- Exodus 18:9 Lit him
- Exodus 18:11 Lit in the thing in which they acted
- Exodus 18:11 Lit them
- Exodus 18:12 Lit bread
- Exodus 18:16 Lit matter
- Exodus 18:18 Lit this
- Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
- Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice
- Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
- Exodus 18:19 Lit matters
- 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 18:24 Lit to the voice of
- 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
- Exodus 18:27 Lit he
Exodus 18
International Standard Version
Jethro Visits Moses
18 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken back Moses’ wife Zipporah after she had been sent away, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, because he would say, “I was an alien[a] in a foreign land,” 4 while the name of the other was Eliezer,[b] because he would say,[c] “My father’s God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses’ two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God.[d] 6 He told Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons.” 7 When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent.
8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel’s behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression[e] of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,[f] because of what happened to[g] the Egyptians when[h] they acted arrogantly against Israel.” 12 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
Jethro Advises Moses to Appoint Judges
13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and 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 is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge,[i] with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses told his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.[j] 16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law told him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You will certainly wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself. 19 Now listen to me. I’ll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring the disputes to God. 20 You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they’re to go and the things they’re to do. 21 You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds,[k] fifties,[l] and tens.[m] 22 They are to judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they’ll bear it with you. 23 If you do this,[n] and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain,[o] and all these people will also go to their homes in peace.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds,[p] fifties,[q] and tens.[r] 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged. 27 Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Exodus 18:3 The Heb. word for alien (ger ) sounds like Gershom
- Exodus 18:4 The Heb. name Eliezer means My God helps
- Exodus 18:4 The Heb. lacks he would say
- Exodus 18:5 I.e. Mount Sinai
- Exodus 18:10 Lit. from under the hand of
- Exodus 18:11 Lit. all the gods
- Exodus 18:11 Lit. the matter in which
- Exodus 18:11 The Heb. lacks when
- Exodus 18:14 The Heb. lacks as judge
- Exodus 18:15 Lit. to inquire of God
- Exodus 18:21 Lit. officials over hundreds
- Exodus 18:21 Lit. officials over fifties
- Exodus 18:21 Lit. officials over tens
- Exodus 18:23 Lit. this thing
- Exodus 18:23 Lit. stand
- Exodus 18:25 Lit. officials over hundreds
- Exodus 18:25 Lit. officials over fifties
- Exodus 18:25 Lit. officials over tens
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