Exodus 18
18
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. 2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away, 3#Acts 7.29. and her two sons, of whom the name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner#18.3 Heb ger in a foreign land”), 4and the name of the other, Eliezer#18.4 Heb Eli, my God, ezer, help (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6And when one told Moses, “Lo,#18.6 Sam Gk Syr: Heb I your father-in-law Jethro is coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare, and went into the tent. 8Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh. 11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians,#18.11 Transposing the last clause of v. 10 to v. 11 when they dealt arrogantly with them.” 12And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, offered#18.12 Syr Tg Vg: Heb took a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
13On the morrow Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from morning till evening. 14When 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 sit alone, and all the people stand about you from morning till evening?” 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and his decisions.” 17Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18You and the people with you will wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone. 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God; 20and you shall teach them the statutes and the decisions, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21Moreover choose able men from all the people, such as fear God, men who are trustworthy and who hate a bribe; and place such men over the people as rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22And let them judge the people at all times; every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves; so it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
24So Moses gave heed to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own country.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
Exodus 18
18
Jethro Visits Moses
1Jethro was the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. He heard what the Lord God had done for Moses and his people, after rescuing them from Egypt.
2-4 #
Ex 2.21,22; Ac 7.29. In the meantime, Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and her two sons to stay with Jethro, and he had welcomed them. Moses was still a foreigner in Midian when his first son was born, and so Moses said, “I'll name him Gershom.”#18.2-4 Gershom: See the note at 2.22.
When his second son was born, Moses said, “I'll name him Eliezer,#18.2-4 Eliezer: In Hebrew “Eliezer” means “God has helped me.” because the God my father worshiped has saved me from the king of Egypt.”#18.2-4 saved … Egypt: See 2.1-15.
5-6While Israel was camped in the desert near Mount Sinai,#18.5,6 Mount Sinai: Hebrew “the mountain of God.” Jethro sent Moses this message: “I am coming to visit you, and I am bringing your wife and two sons.”
7When they arrived, Moses went out and bowed down in front of Jethro, then kissed him. After they had greeted each other, they went into the tent, 8where Moses told him everything the Lord had done to protect Israel against the Egyptians and their king. He also told him how the Lord had helped them in all of their troubles.
9Jethro was so pleased to hear this good news about what the Lord had done, 10that he shouted, “Praise the Lord! He rescued you and the Israelites from the Egyptians and their king. 11#3 Macc 2.3. Now I know that the Lord is the greatest God, because he has rescued Israel from their arrogant enemies.” 12Jethro offered sacrifices to God. Then Aaron and Israel's leaders came to eat with Jethro there at the place of worship.
Judges Are Appointed
(Deuteronomy 1.9-18)
13The next morning Moses sat down at the place where he decided legal cases for the people, and everyone crowded around him until evening. 14Jethro saw how much Moses had to do for the people, and he asked, “Why are you the only judge? Why do you let these people crowd around you from morning till evening?”
15Moses answered, “Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do. 16They bring their complaints to me, and I make decisions on the basis of God's laws.”
17Jethro replied:
That isn't the best way to do it. 18You and the people who come to you will soon be worn out. The job is too much for one person; you can't do it alone. 19God will help you if you follow my advice. You should be the one to speak to God for the people, 20and you should teach them God's laws and show them what they must do to live right.
21You will need to appoint some competent leaders who respect God and are trustworthy and honest. Then put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 22These judges can handle the ordinary cases and bring the more difficult ones to you. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. 23This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress, and everyone else will return home feeling satisfied.
24Moses followed Jethro's advice. 25He chose some competent leaders from every tribe in Israel and put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 26They served as judges, deciding the easy cases themselves, but bringing the more difficult ones to Moses.
27After Moses and his father-in-law Jethro had said goodbye to each other, Jethro returned home.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.