Exodus 18
Jethro’s Counsel
18Now aJethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife aZipporah, after he had sent her away, 3and her atwo sons, of whom 1one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been ba 2sojourner in a foreign land.” 41And the other was named 2,aEliezer, for he said, “bThe God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses 1in the wilderness where he was camped, at athe mount of God. 6And he 1sent 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 ahe bowed down and bkissed him; and they casked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians afor Israel’s sake, all the bhardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how cYahweh had delivered them. 9And Jethro rejoiced over all athe goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, that He had delivered 1them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10So Jethro said, “aBlessed be Yahweh who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11“Now I know that aYahweh is greater than all the gods; 1for bin this matter they acted presumptuously against 2the people.” 12aThen Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat 1a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13Now it happened the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14And Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, so 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 about you from morning until evening?” 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me ato inquire of God. 16“When they have a amatter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17And Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18“aYou will surely wear out, both yourself and 1these people who are with you, for the 2task is too heavy for you; byou cannot do it alone. 19“Now listen to my voice: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 1You be the people’s representative before God, and you abring the matters to God; 20athen warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them bthe way in which they shall go and the work they shall do. 21“But you shall 1select aexcellent men out of all the people, bthose who fear God, men of truth, those who chate greedy gain; and you shall place these men over them as leaders of thousands, 2of hundreds, 3of fifties, and 4of tens. 22“And they will judge the people at all times. And it will be athat every major matter they will bring to you, but every minor matter they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and bthey will bear the burden with you. 23“If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 1endure, and all 2these people also will go to 3their place in peace.”
24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25And Moses chose aexcellent men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 1of hundreds, 2of fifties, and 3of tens. 26And they judged the people at all times; athe difficult matter they would bring to Moses, but every minor matter they themselves would judge. 27Then Moses 1,alet his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.