Exodus 18

Jethro Comes to Moses

1Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, that the LORD had brought Israel out from Egypt. 2So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after Moses had sent her away, 3and her two sons. The name of one was Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a resident alien in a foreign land.” 4The name of the other was Eliezer, for he had said, “The God of my father was my help and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.” 5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was camped at the mountain of God. 6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, and your wife and her two sons with her.” 7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and came into the tent.

Jethro Rejoices over the LORD’s Deliverance

8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had found them on the way, and how the LORD had rescued them. 9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel, rescuing them from the hand of Egypt. 10Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of Pharaoh, who rescued the people from under the hand of Egypt. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, for in the very thing in which they acted arrogantly, he was above them.” 12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Advises Moses

13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek God. 16When they have a matter, it comes to me, and I judge between one person and another and make known the statutes of God and his instructions.” 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and this people who are with you, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Choose Capable People

19“Now listen to my voice; I will counsel you, and may God be with you. You be for the people before God, and you shall bring the matters to God. 20Teach them the statutes and instructions, and make known to them the way in which they shall walk and the work they shall do. 21But you shall seek out from all the people capable men who fear God, people of truth who hate unjust gain. Place such over them as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens. 22Let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. Make it lighter for yourself, and let them carry the burden with you. 23If you do this thing and God commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

Moses Listens to Jethro

24Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people: leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens. 26They judged the people at all times. The difficult matter they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law away, and he went to his own land.