Exodus 18

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

1Now 1Jethro, 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. 2And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife 2Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3and her 3two sons, 4one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been 5a stranger in a foreign land.” 4And 6the other was named 78Eliezer, for he said, “9The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses 10in the wilderness where he was camped, at 11the mountain of God. 6And he 12sent 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 13he bowed down and 14kissed him; and they 15asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians 16for Israel’s sake, all the 17hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how 18the Lord had rescued them. 9And Jethro rejoiced over all 19the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, 20in rescuing 21them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10So Jethro said, “22Blessed 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. 11Now I know that 23the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, 2425it was proven when they acted insolently against 26the people.” 1227Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat 28a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Counsels Moses

13And 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. 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 before you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me 29to inquire of God. 16When they have a 3031dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 1832You will surely wear out, both yourself and 33these people who are with you, because the 34task is too heavy for you; 35you cannot do it alone. 19Now listen to 36me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 37You be the people’s representative before God, and you 38bring the 39disputes to God, 2040then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them 41the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21Furthermore, you shall 42select out of all the people 43able men 44who fear God, men of truth, those who 45hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, 46of hundreds, 47of fifties, and 48of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be 49that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and 50they will carry the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 51endure, and all 52these people also will go to 53their places in peace.”

24So Moses listened 54to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25Moses chose 55able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 56of hundreds, 57of fifties, and 58of tens. 26Then they judged the people at all times; 59they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27Then Moses 6061said goodbye to his father-in-law, and 62Jethro went his way to his own land.