Berean Standard Bible

Exodus 18

1Now Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872אֵת֩'etH853’father-in-lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,the priestכֹהֵ֤ןkho.HenH3548of Midianמִדְיָן֙mid.YanH4080,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085about allכָּל־kol-H3605thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213for Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֔הle.mo.ShehH4872and His peopleעַמּ֑וֹa.MoH5971Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and howכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068אֶת־'et-H853had broughtהוֹצִ֧יאho.Tzi'H3318Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

2Afterאַחַ֖ר'a.CharH310Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872had sent backשִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃shi.lu.Chei.haH7964his wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802Zipporahצִפֹּרָ֖הtzi.po.RahH6855, hisמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872אֶת־'et-H853father-in-lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859Jethroיִתְרוֹ֙yit.RoH3503had received herוַיִּקַּ֗חvai.yi.KachH3947,

3along withוְאֵ֖תve.'EtH853her twoשְׁנֵ֣יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֑יהָva.Nei.haH1121.Oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259sonאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834was namedשֵׁ֤םshemH8034Gershomגֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔םge.re.ShomH1647,forכִּ֣יkiH3588Moses had saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559, “I have beenהָיִ֔יתִיha.Yi.tiH1961a foreignerגֵּ֣רgerH1616in a foreignנָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.YahH5237landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776.”

4The otherהָאֶחָ֖דha.'e.ChadH259sonwas namedוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034Eliezerאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר'e.li.'E.zerH461,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588Moses had said, “The Godאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of my fatherאָבִי֙'a.ViH1was my helperבְּעֶזְרִ֔יbe.'ez.RiH5828and delivered meוַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִיvai.ya.tzi.Le.niH5337from the swordמֵחֶ֥רֶבme.Che.revH2719of Pharaohפַּרְעֹֽה׃par.'OhH6547.”

5Moses’ father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,along with Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872’wifeוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹve.'ish.ToH802and sonsוּבָנָ֥יוu.va.NavH1121,cameוַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'H935toאֶל־'el-H413himמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872inאֶל־'el-H413the desertהַמִּדְבָּ֗רha.mid.BarH4057,whereאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834heה֛וּאhu'H1931was encampedחֹנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖םcho.Neh shamH2583 H8033at the mountainהַ֥רharH2022of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

6He sent wordוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872, “Iאֲנִ֛י'a.NiH589,your father-in-lawחֹתֶנְךָ֥cho.ten.KhaH2859Jethroיִתְר֖וֹyit.RoH3503,am comingבָּ֣אba'H935toאֵלֶ֑יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413you with your wifeוְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ve.'Ish.te.khaH802and herעִמָּֽהּ׃'i.MahH5973twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֖יהָva.Nei.haH1121.”

7So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣אתmo.Sheh lik.RatH4872 H7122went out to meetוַיֵּצֵ֨אvai.ye.Tze'H3318his father-in-lawחֹֽתְנ֗וֹcho.te.NoH2859and bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙vai.yish.Ta.chuH7812and kissedוַיִּשַּׁק־vai.yi.shak-H5401him.They greetedוַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ לְשָׁל֑וֹםvai.yish.'a.Lu le.sha.LomH7592 H7965eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376otherלְרֵעֵ֖הוּle.re.'E.huH7453and wentוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the tentהָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ha.'O.he.lahH168.

8Then Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872recountedוַיְסַפֵּ֤רvay.sa.PerH5608to his father-in-lawלְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹle.Cho.te.NoH2859אֵת֩'etH853allכָּל־kol-H3605thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213to Pharaohלְפַרְעֹ֣הle.far.'OhH6547and the Egyptiansוּלְמִצְרַ֔יִםu.le.mitz.Ra.yimH4714forעַ֖ל'alH5921Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478אֵ֤ת'etH853sakeאוֹדֹ֣ת'o.DotH182,allכָּל־kol-H3605the hardshipsהַתְּלָאָה֙ha.te.la.'AhH8513אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they had encounteredמְצָאָ֣תַםme.tza.'A.tamH4672along the wayבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870,and how the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068had delivered themוַיַּצִּלֵ֖םvai.ya.tzi.LemH5337.

9And Jethroיִתְר֔וֹyit.RoH3503rejoicedוַיִּ֣חַדְּvai.Yi.chadH2302overעַ֚ל'alH5921allכָּל־kol-H3605the good thingsהַטּוֹבָ֔הha.to.VahH2896אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213for Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whomאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834He had rescuedהִצִּיל֖וֹhi.tzi.LoH5337from the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

10Jethroיִתְרוֹ֒yit.RoH3503declaredוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559, “Blessedבָּר֣וּךְba.RukhH1288bethe LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834has deliveredהִצִּ֥ילhi.TzilH5337youאֶתְכֶ֛ם'et.KhemH853from the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714וּמִיַּ֣דu.mi.YadH3027and of Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547,and whoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834has deliveredהִצִּיל֙hi.TzilH5337אֶת־'et-H853the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971fromמִתַּ֖חַתmi.Ta.chatH8478the handיַד־yad-H3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

11Nowעַתָּ֣ה'a.TahH6258I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068is greaterגָד֥וֹלga.DolH1419than all otherמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605godsהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,forכִּ֣יkiH3588He did thisבַדָּבָ֔רva.da.VarH1697when theyאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834treated Israel with arroganceזָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃za.Du 'a.lei.HemH2102 H5921.”

12Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872’father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503broughtוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947a burnt offeringעֹלָ֥ה'o.LahH5930and sacrificesוּזְבָחִ֖יםu.ze.va.ChimH2077to Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֑יםle.lo.HimH430,and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ן'a.ha.RonH175cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935with allוְכֹ֣ל׀ve.KholH3605the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478to eatלֶאֱכָל־le.'e.khol-H398breadלֶ֛חֶםLe.chemH3899withעִם־'im-H5973Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872’father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859in the presenceלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

Jethro Advises Moses

(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13וַיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961The next dayמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872took his seatוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֣טlish.PotH8199אֶת־'et-H853the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,and they stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙vai.ya.'a.Mod ha.'AmH5975 H5971aroundעַל־'al-H5921himמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872fromמִן־min-H4480morningהַבֹּ֖קֶרha.Bo.kerH1242untilעַד־'ad-H5704eveningהָעָֽרֶב׃ha.'A.revH6153.

14Whenמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872hisאֵ֛ת'etH853father-in-lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200allכָּל־kol-H3605thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Mosesה֥וּאhu'H1931was doingעֹשֶׂ֖ה'o.SehH6213for the peopleלָעָ֑םla.'AmH5971,he askedוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100is thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834הַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697you areאַתָּ֤ה'a.TahH859doingעֹשֶׂה֙'o.SehH6213for the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971?Whyמַדּ֗וּעַma.Du.a'H4069do youאַתָּ֤ה'a.TahH859sitיוֹשֵׁב֙yo.ShevH3427aloneלְבַדֶּ֔ךָle.va.De.khaH905as judge,with allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971standingנִצָּ֥בni.TzavH5324aroundעָלֶ֖יךָ'a.Lei.khaH5921you fromמִן־min-H4480morningבֹּ֥קֶרBo.kerH1242tillעַד־'ad-H5704eveningעָֽרֶב׃'A.revH6153?”

15“Becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971comeיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935to meאֵלַ֛י'e.LaiH413to inquireלִדְרֹ֥שׁlid.RoshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430,”Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872repliedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559לְחֹתְנ֑וֹle.cho.te.NoH2859.

16“Wheneverכִּֽי־ki-H3588they haveיִהְיֶ֨הyih.YehH1961a disputeדָּבָר֙da.VarH1697,it is broughtבָּ֣אba'H935to meאֵלַ֔י'e.LaiH413to judgeוְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔יve.Sha.fa.TiH8199betweenבֵּ֥יןbeinH996one manאִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין'ish u.VeinH376 H996and anotherרֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.huH7453,and I make knownוְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛יve.ho.da'.TiH3045to themאֶת־'et-H853the statutesחֻקֵּ֥יchu.KeiH2706andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853lawsתּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃to.ro.TavH8451of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.”

17But Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872’father-in-lawחֹתֵ֥ןcho.TenH2859saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to himאֵלָ֑יו'e.LavH413, “Whatהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834you areאַתָּ֖ה'a.TahH859doingעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213is notלֹא־lo'-H3808goodטוֹב֙tOvH2896.

18Surelyגַּם־gam-H1571youאַתָּ֕ה'a.TahH859andגַּם־gam-H1571theseהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834with youעִמָּ֑ךְ'i.MakhH5973will wear yourselves outH5034,becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the taskהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697is too heavyכָבֵ֤דkha.VedH3515for youמִמְּךָ֙mi.me.KhaH4480.You cannotלֹא־ תוּכַ֥לlo'- tu.KhalH3808 H3201handleעֲשֹׂ֖הוּ'a.So.huH6213it aloneלְבַדֶּֽךָ׃le.va.De.khaH905.

19Nowעַתָּ֞ה'a.TahH6258listen to meשְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙she.Ma' be.ko.LiH8085 H6963;I will give you some adviceאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze.khaH3289,and may Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430beוִיהִ֥יvi.HiH1961with youעִמָּ֑ךְ'i.MakhH5973.Youאַתָּ֣ה'a.TahH859must beהֱיֵ֧הhe.YehH1961the people’s representativeלָעָ֗םla.'AmH5971beforeמ֚וּלmulH4136Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430and bringוְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛הve.he.ve.Ta 'a.TahH935 H859אֶת־'et-H853their causesהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697toאֶל־'el-H413Himהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

20Teachוְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣הve.hiz.har.TahH2094אֶתְהֶ֔ם'et.HemH853themאֶת־'et-H853the statutesהַחֻקִּ֖יםha.chu.KimH2706וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and lawsהַתּוֹרֹ֑תha.to.RotH8451,and showוְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ve.ho.da'.TaH3045themאֶת־'et-H853the wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha.De.rekhH1870to liveיֵ֣לְכוּYe.le.khuH1980וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖הha.ma.'a.SehH4639אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they must doיַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ya.'a.SunH6213.

21Furthermoreוְאַתָּ֣הve.'a.TahH859,selectתֶחֱזֶ֣הte.che.ZehH2372capableחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582from amongמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the peopleהָ֠עָםHa.'omH5971—God-fearingיִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥יyir.'Ei 'E.lo.Him 'an.SheiH3373 H430 H582,trustworthy menאֱמֶ֖ת'e.MetH571who are averseשֹׂ֣נְאֵיSo.ne.'eiH8130to dishonest gainבָ֑צַעVa.tza'H1215.Appoint themוְשַׂמְתָּ֣ve.sam.TaH7760overעֲלֵהֶ֗ם'a.le.HemH5921the peopleas leadersשָׂרֵ֤יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י'a.la.Fim sa.ReiH505 H8269,of hundredsמֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥יme.'ot sa.ReiH3967 H8269,of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥יcha.mi.Shim ve.sa.ReiH2572 H8269,and of tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235.

22Have these men judgeוְשָׁפְט֣וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199אֶת־'et-H853the peopleהָעָם֮ha.'AmH5971at allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605timesעֵת֒'etH6256.Thenוְהָיָ֞הve.ha.YahH1961they can bringיָבִ֣יאוּya.Vi.'uH935youאֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413anyכָּל־kol-H3605majorהַגָּדֹל֙ha.ga.DolH1419issueהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697,but allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605minorהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996casesהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697they can judgeיִשְׁפְּטוּ־yish.pe.tu-H8199on their ownהֵ֑םHemH1992,so that your load may be lightenedוְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָve.ha.Kel me.'a.Lei.khaH7043 H5921as they shareוְנָשְׂא֖וּve.na.se.'UH5375it with youאִתָּֽךְ׃'i.TakhH854.

23Ifאִ֣ם'imH518אֶת־'et-H853you followתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088adviceהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697and Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430so directs youוְצִוְּךָ֣ve.tzi.ve.KhaH6680,then you will be ableוְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ve.ya.khal.TaH3201to endureעֲמֹ֑ד'a.ModH5975,andוְגַם֙ve.GamH1571allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהַזֶּ֔ה עַל־ha.Zeh 'al-H2088 H5921peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971can goיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935homeמְקֹמ֖וֹme.ko.MoH4725in peaceבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ve.sha.LomH7965.”

24Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖ה לְק֣וֹלmo.Sheh le.KolH4872 H6963listenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֥עvai.yish.Ma'H8085to his father-in-lawחֹתְנ֑וֹcho.te.NoH2859and didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213everythingכֹּ֖לkolH3605אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834he saidאָמָֽר׃'a.MarH559.

25So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֤הmo.ShehH4872choseוַיִּבְחַ֨רvai.yiv.CharH977capableחַ֙יִל֙cha.yilH2428menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582from allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478and madeוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414themאֹתָ֛ם'o.TamH853headsרָאשִׁ֖יםra.ShimH7218overעַל־'al-H5921the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971as leadersשָׂרֵ֤יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י'a.la.Fim sa.ReiH505 H8269,of hundredsמֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥יme.'ot sa.ReiH3967 H8269,of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥יcha.mi.Shim ve.sa.ReiH2572 H8269,and of tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235.

26And they judgedוְשָׁפְט֥וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199אֶת־'et-H853the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971at allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605timesעֵ֑ת'EtH6256אֶת־'et-H853;they would bringיְבִיא֣וּןye.vi.'UnH935the difficultהַקָּשֶׁה֙ha.ka.ShehH7186casesהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697toאֶל־'el-H413Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,but anyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605minorהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996issueהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697they would judgeיִשְׁפּוּט֥וּyish.pu.TuH8199themselvesהֵֽם׃HemH1992.

27Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872אֶת־'et-H853sentוַיְשַׁלַּ֥חvay.sha.LachH7971his father-in-law on his wayחֹתְנ֑וֹcho.te.NoH2859,and Jethro returnedוַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980toאֶל־'el-H413his own landאַרְצֽוֹ׃ פ'ar.TzoH776.

Jethro Advises Moses

(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

Commentaries on Exodus 18