18Exodus 18

1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.Select Exodus 18:1

2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,Select Exodus 18:2

3and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.Select Exodus 18:3

4The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”Select Exodus 18:4

5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.Select Exodus 18:5

6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.”Select Exodus 18:6

7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.Select Exodus 18:7

8Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.Select Exodus 18:8

9Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.Select Exodus 18:9

10Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.Select Exodus 18:10

11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.”Select Exodus 18:11

12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.Select Exodus 18:12

13On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.Select Exodus 18:13

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”Select Exodus 18:14

15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.Select Exodus 18:15

16When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”Select Exodus 18:16

17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.Select Exodus 18:17

18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.Select Exodus 18:18

19Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.Select Exodus 18:19

20You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.Select Exodus 18:20

21Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.Select Exodus 18:21

22Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.Select Exodus 18:22

23If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace.”Select Exodus 18:23

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

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

26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.Select Exodus 18:26

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