Exodus 18

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

1Now 1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife 2Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3and her 3two sons, of whom 4one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been 5a 6sojourner in a foreign land.” 47The other was named 89Eliezer, for he said, “10The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses 11in the wilderness where he was camped, at 12the mount of God. 6He 13sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and 14he bowed down and 15kissed him; and they 16asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians 17for Israel’s sake, all the 18hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how 19the Lord had delivered them. 9Jethro rejoiced over all 20the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, 21in delivering 22them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10So Jethro said, “23Blessed be the Lord 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. 11Now I know that 24the Lord is greater than all the gods; 25indeed, 26it was proven when they dealt proudly against 27the people.” 1228Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat 29a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now 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 about you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me 30to inquire of God. 16When they have a 3132dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Jethro Counsels Moses

17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 1833You will surely wear out, both yourself and 34these people who are with you, for the 35task is too heavy for you; 36you cannot do it alone. 19Now listen to 37me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 38You be the people’s representative before God, and you 39bring the 40disputes to God, 2041then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them 42the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21Furthermore, you shall 43select out of all the people 44able men 45who fear God, men of truth, those who 46hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, 47of hundreds, 48of fifties and 49of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be 50that every major 51dispute they will bring to you, but every minor 52dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and 53they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 54endure, and all 55these people also will go to 56their place in peace.”

24So Moses listened 57to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose 58able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 59of hundreds, 60of fifties and 61of tens. 26They judged the people at all times; 62the difficult 63dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor 64dispute they themselves would judge. 27Then Moses 6566bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.