New American Standard Bible 1995

Exodus 18

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

1NowJethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,the priestכֹהֵ֤ןkho.HenH3548of Midianמִדְיָן֙mid.YanH4080,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085of allכָּל־kol-H3605that Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213for Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֔הle.mo.ShehH4872and for Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478His peopleעַמּ֑וֹa.MoH5971,howכִּֽי־ki-H3588the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had broughtהוֹצִ֧יאho.Tzi'H3318Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

2Jethroיִתְרוֹ֙yit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860,tookוַיִּקַּ֗חvai.yi.KachH3947Moses’מֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802Zipporahצִפֹּרָ֖הtzi.po.RahH6855,afterאַחַ֖ר'a.CharH310he had sentH7971her awayH7971,

3and hertwoשְׁנֵ֣יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֑יהָva.Nei.haH1121,of whomאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259was namedשֵׁ֤םshemH8034Gershomגֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔םge.re.ShomH1647,for Moses saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559, “I have beenהָיִ֔יתִיha.Yi.tiH1961asojournerגֵּ֣רgerH1616in a foreignנָכְרִיָּֽה׃na.khe.ri.YahH5237landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776.”

4The otherהָאֶחָ֖דha.'e.ChadH259was namedוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034Eliezerאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר'e.li.'E.zerH461, for he said, “The Godאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of my fatherאָבִי֙'a.ViH1was my helpבְּעֶזְרִ֔יbe.'ez.RiH5828,and deliveredוַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִיvai.ya.tzi.Le.niH5337me from the swordמֵחֶ֥רֶבme.Che.revH2719of Pharaohפַּרְעֹֽה׃par.'OhH6547.”

5Then Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860,cameוַיָּבֹ֞אvai.ya.Vo'H935with his sonsוּבָנָ֥יוu.va.NavH1121and his wifeוְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹve.'ish.ToH802to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872in the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֗רha.mid.BarH4057whereאֲשֶׁר־ שָׁ֖ם'a.Sher- shamH834 H8033he was campedחֹנֶ֥הcho.NehH2583, atthe mountהַ֥רharH2022of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

6HesentH559wordH559to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872, “I, your father-in-lawH2860Jethroיִתְר֖וֹyit.RoH3503,am comingבָּ֣אba'H935to you with your wifeוְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ve.'Ish.te.khaH802and her twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147sonsבָנֶ֖יהָva.Nei.haH1121with her.”

7Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872wentוַיֵּצֵ֨אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out to meetלִקְרַ֣אתlik.RatH7122his father-in-lawH2860, andhe bowedH7812downוַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙vai.yish.Ta.chuH7812andkissedוַיִּשַּׁק־vai.yi.shak-H5401him; and theyaskedוַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּvai.yish.'a.LuH7592eachאִישׁ־'ish-H376otherלְרֵעֵ֖הוּle.re.'E.huH7453of their welfareלְשָׁל֑וֹםle.sha.LomH7965and wentוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935into the tentהָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ha.'O.he.lahH168.

8Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872toldוַיְסַפֵּ֤רvay.sa.PerH5608his father-in-lawH2860allכָּל־kol-H3605that the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213to Pharaohלְפַרְעֹ֣הle.far.'OhH6547and to the Egyptiansוּלְמִצְרַ֔יִםu.le.mitz.Ra.yimH4714for Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478sakeעַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֣ת'al 'o.DotH5921 H182,allכָּל־kol-H3605thehardshipהַתְּלָאָה֙ha.te.la.'AhH8513that had befallenמְצָאָ֣תַםme.tza.'A.tamH4672them on the journeyבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870, and howthe Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068had deliveredוַיַּצִּלֵ֖םvai.ya.tzi.LemH5337them.

9Jethroיִתְר֔וֹyit.RoH3503rejoicedוַיִּ֣חַדְּvai.Yi.chadH2302overעַ֚ל'alH5921allכָּל־kol-H3605the goodnessH2899whichH834the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,in deliveringהִצִּיל֖וֹhi.tzi.LoH5337them from the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

10So Jethroיִתְרוֹ֒yit.RoH3503saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559, “Blessedבָּר֣וּךְba.RukhH1288be the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834deliveredהִצִּ֥ילhi.TzilH5337you from the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714and from the handוּמִיַּ֣דu.mi.YadH3027of Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֑הpar.'OhH6547, andwhoאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834deliveredהִצִּיל֙hi.TzilH5337the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971from underמִתַּ֖חַתmi.Ta.chatH8478the handיַד־yad-H3027of the Egyptiansמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

11Nowעַתָּ֣ה'a.TahH6258I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045thatthe Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068is greaterגָד֥וֹלga.DolH1419thanH4480allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the godsהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430;indeedH3588,it was provenבַדָּבָ֔רva.da.VarH1697whenאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they dealtH2102proudlyH2102againstעֲלֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei.HemH5921the people.”

12Then Jethroיִתְר֨וֹyit.RoH3503,Moses’מֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860,tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947a burntעֹלָ֥ה'o.LahH5930offeringH5930and sacrificesוּזְבָחִ֖יםu.ze.va.ChimH2077for Godלֵֽאלֹהִ֑יםle.lo.HimH430,and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֜ן'a.ha.RonH175cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935with allוְכֹ֣ל׀ve.KholH3605the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478to eatלֶאֱכָל־le.'e.khol-H398a mealלֶ֛חֶםLe.chemH3899with Moses’מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

13It cameוַיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961about the nextמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283dayH4283that Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872satוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֣טlish.PotH8199the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,and the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֤דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975aboutעַל־'al-H5921Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872from the morningהַבֹּ֖קֶרha.Bo.kerH1242untilעַד־'ad-H5704the eveningהָעָֽרֶב׃ha.'A.revH6153.

14Now when Moses’מֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200allכָּל־kol-H3605that he was doingעֹשֶׂ֖ה'o.SehH6213for the peopleלָעָ֑םla.'AmH5971,he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100is thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697that you are doingעֹשֶׂה֙'o.SehH6213for the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971?Whyמַדּ֗וּעַma.Du.a'H4069do you aloneלְבַדֶּ֔ךָle.va.De.khaH905sitיוֹשֵׁב֙yo.ShevH3427as judgeand allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971standנִצָּ֥בni.TzavH5324aboutעָלֶ֖יךָ'a.Lei.khaH5921you from morningבֹּ֥קֶרBo.kerH1242untilעַד־'ad-H5704eveningעָֽרֶב׃'A.revH6153?”

15Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his father-in-lawH2860, “Becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971comeיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935to meto inquireלִדְרֹ֥שׁlid.RoshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430.

16Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588they haveיִהְיֶ֨הyih.YehH1961adisputeדָּבָר֙da.VarH1697,it comesבָּ֣אba'H935to me, and I judgeוְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔יve.Sha.fa.TiH8199betweenH996a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376and his neighborרֵעֵ֑הוּre.'E.huH7453and makeוְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛יve.ho.da'.TiH3045knownH3045the statutesחֻקֵּ֥יchu.KeiH2706of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430and His lawsתּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃to.ro.TavH8451.”

Jethro Counsels Moses

17Moses’מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872father-in-lawH2860saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “The thingהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697that you are doingעֹשֶֽׂה׃'o.SehH6213is not goodטוֹב֙tOvH2896.

18You will surelyנָבֹ֣לna.VolH5034wearתִּבֹּ֔לti.BolH5034out, bothH1571yourselfאַתָּ֕ה'a.TahH859andtheseהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834are with you, for thetaskהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697is tooמִמְּךָ֙mi.me.KhaH4480heavyכָבֵ֤דkha.VedH3515for you;you cannotלֹא־ תוּכַ֥לlo'- tu.KhalH3201 H3808doעֲשֹׂ֖הוּ'a.So.huH6213it aloneלְבַדֶּֽךָ׃le.va.De.khaH905.

19Nowעַתָּ֞ה'a.TahH6258listenשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085tome: I will giveH3289you counselH3289,and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430be with you.You be the people’sלָעָ֗םla.'AmH5971representative beforeמ֚וּלmulH4136Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, and youbringוְהֵבֵאתָ֥ve.he.ve.TaH935thedisputesהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697to Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430,

20then teachוְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣הve.hiz.har.TahH2094them the statutesהַחֻקִּ֖יםha.chu.KimH2706and the lawsהַתּוֹרֹ֑תha.to.RotH8451,and makeוְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ve.ho.da'.TaH3045knownH3045to themthe wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha.De.rekhH1870in which they are to walkיֵ֣לְכוּYe.le.khuH1980and the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖הha.ma.'a.SehH4639they are to doיַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ya.'a.SunH6213.

21Furthermore, you shallselectתֶחֱזֶ֣הte.che.ZehH2372out of allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the peopleהָ֠עָםHa.'omH5971ableחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428menH376who fearH3372Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430,menH376of truthאֱמֶ֖ת'e.MetH571, those whohateשֹׂ֣נְאֵיSo.ne.'eiH8130dishonestH1215gainבָ֑צַעVa.tza'H1215;and you shall placeוְשַׂמְתָּ֣ve.sam.TaH7760theseoverעֲלֵהֶ֗ם'a.le.HemH5921them asleadersH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505,of hundredsמֵא֔וֹתme.'otH3967,of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖יםcha.mi.ShimH2572andof tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235.

22Let them judgeוְשָׁפְט֣וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199the peopleהָעָם֮ha.'AmH5971at allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605timesעֵת֒'etH6256; and let it bethat everyכָּל־kol-H3605majorהַגָּדֹל֙ha.ga.DolH1419disputeהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697they will bringיָבִ֣יאוּya.Vi.'uH935to you, but everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605minorהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996disputeהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697they themselves will judgeיִשְׁפְּטוּ־yish.pe.tu-H8199.So it will be easierוְהָקֵל֙ve.ha.KelH7043for you, andthey will bearוְנָשְׂא֖וּve.na.se.'UH5375the burden with you.

23Ifאִ֣ם'imH518you doתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088thingהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697and Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430socommandsוְצִוְּךָ֣ve.tzi.ve.KhaH6680you, then you will be ableוְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ve.ya.khal.TaH3201toendureעֲמֹ֑ד'a.ModH5975,and allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971alsoוְגַם֙ve.GamH1571will goיָבֹ֥אya.Vo'H935totheir placeמְקֹמ֖וֹme.ko.MoH4725in peaceבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ve.sha.LomH7965.”

24So Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872listenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֥עvai.yish.Ma'H8085to his father-in-lawH2860and didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213allכֹּ֖לkolH3605that he had saidאָמָֽר׃'a.MarH559.

25Mosesמֹשֶׁ֤הmo.ShehH4872choseוַיִּבְחַ֨רvai.yiv.CharH977ableחַ֙יִל֙cha.yilH2428menH376out of allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478and madeוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414them headsרָאשִׁ֖יםra.ShimH7218overעַל־'al-H5921the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971,leadersH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505,of hundredsמֵא֔וֹתme.'otH3967,of fiftiesחֲמִשִּׁ֖יםcha.mi.ShimH2572andof tensעֲשָׂרֹֽת׃'a.sa.RotH6235.

26They judgedוְשָׁפְט֥וּve.sha.fe.TuH8199the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971at allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605timesעֵ֑ת'EtH6256;the difficultהַקָּשֶׁה֙ha.ka.ShehH7186disputeהַדָּבָ֤רha.da.VarH1697they would bringיְבִיא֣וּןye.vi.'UnH935to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֔הmo.ShehH4872,but everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605minorהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996disputeהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697they themselves would judgeיִשְׁפּוּט֥וּyish.pu.TuH8199.

27Then Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872badeH7971his father-in-lawH2860farewellH7971,and he wentוַיֵּ֥לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980his way into his own landאַרְצֽוֹ׃ פ'ar.TzoH776.

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

Jethro Counsels Moses

Commentaries on Exodus 18