18Exodus 18

CHAP. XVIII. / 1 lethro bringeth to Moses his wife and two sonnes. 7 Moses entertaineth him. 13 lethros counsell is accepted. 27 lethro departeth.

1When lethro the Priest of Midian, Moses father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt:Select Exodus 18:1

2Then lethro Moses father in law tooke Zipporah Moses wife, after he had sent her backe,Select Exodus 18:2

3And her two sonnes, of which the name of the one was Gershom: for he said, I haue bene an alien in a strange land.Select Exodus 18:3

4And the name of the other was Eliezer: for the God of my father, said he, was mine helpe, and deliuered me from the sword of Pharaoh.Select Exodus 18:4

5And lethro Moses father in law came with his sonnes and his wife vnto Moses into the wildernes, where he encamped at the mount of God.Select Exodus 18:5

6And he said vnto Moses, I thy father in law lethro am come vnto thee, and thy wife, and her two sonnes with her.Select Exodus 18:6

7And Moses went out to meete his father in law, and did obeysance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.Select Exodus 18:7

8And Moses told his father in law, all that the Lord had done vnto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israels sake, and all the trauaile that had come vpon them by the way, and how the Lord deliuered them.Select Exodus 18:8

9And lethro reioyced for all the goodnesse which the Lord had doue to Israel: whom he had deliuered out of the hand of the Egyptians.Select Exodus 18:9

10And lethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath deliuered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath deliuered the people from vnder the hand of the Egyptians.Select Exodus 18:10

11Now I know that the Lord is greater then all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, hee was aboue them.Select Exodus 18:11

12And lethro, Moses father in law, tooke a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the Elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses father in law before God.Select Exodus 18:12

13And it came to passe on the morrow, that Moses sate to iudge the people: and the people stood by Moses, from the morning vnto the euening.Select Exodus 18:13

14And when Moses father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thy selfe alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning vnto euen?Select Exodus 18:14

15And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire of God.Select Exodus 18:15

16When they haue a matter, they come vnto mee, and I iudge betweene one and another, and I doe make them know the statutes of God and his Lawes.Select Exodus 18:16

17And Moses father in law saide vnto him, The thing that thou doest, is not good.Select Exodus 18:17

18Thou wilt surely weare away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heauy for thee; thou art not able to performe it thy selfe alone.Select Exodus 18:18

19Hearken now vnto my voyce, I will giue thee counsell, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God:Select Exodus 18:19

20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and lawes, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must doe.Select Exodus 18:20

21Moreouer thou shalt prouide out of all the people able men, such as feare God, men of trueth, hating couetousnesse, and place such ouer them, to bee rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.Select Exodus 18:21

22And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and it shall bee that euery great matter they shall bring vnto thee, but euery small matter they shal iudge: so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare the burden with thee.Select Exodus 18:22

23If thou shalt doe this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt bee able to endure, and all this people shall also goe to their place in peace.Select Exodus 18:23

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.Select Exodus 18:24

25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads ouer the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.Select Exodus 18:25

26And they iudged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought vnto Moses, but euery small matter they iudged themselues.Select Exodus 18:26

27And Moses let his father in law depart, and he went his way into his owne land.Select Exodus 18:27