Exodus 18 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Jethro’s Advice

1 Jethro, 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. (Ex 2:16; Ex 2:18; Ex 18:12) 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner^[1] in a foreign land”), (Ex 2:22; Ex 4:20; Ps 39:12; Ac 7:29; Heb 11:13)

Ex 2:22Ex 4:20Ps 39:12Ac 7:29Heb 11:13

4 and the name of the other, Eliezer^[2] (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 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. (Ex 3:1) 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I,^[3] your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. (Ge 14:17; Ge 18:2; Ge 19:1; Ge 29:13; Ge 33:4; 2Sa 19:39; 1Ki 2:19)

Ge 14:17Ge 18:2Ge 19:1Ge 29:13Ge 33:42Sa 19:391Ki 2:19

8 Then 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. (Ne 9:9; Ps 78:12; Ps 78:42; Ps 106:7)

Ne 9:9Ps 78:12Ps 78:42Ps 106:7

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. (Ge 14:20; 2Sa 18:28; Lu 1:68) 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”^[4] (1Ch 16:25; 2Ch 2:5; Ne 9:10; Ps 95:3; Ps 97:9; Ps 119:21; Ps 135:5; Da 4:37; Lu 1:51)

1Ch 16:252Ch 2:5Ne 9:10Ps 95:3Ps 97:9Ps 119:21Ps 135:5Da 4:37Lu 1:51

12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought 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. (Ge 31:54; Ex 24:11; De 12:7; De 14:26; 1Ch 29:22)

Ge 31:54Ex 24:11De 12:7De 14:261Ch 29:22

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When 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 around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; (Le 24:12; Nu 15:34) 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” (Ex 24:14; De 4:5; De 5:1; De 17:8; 2Sa 15:2; 1Co 6:1)

Ex 24:14De 4:5De 5:1De 17:82Sa 15:21Co 6:1

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. (Nu 11:14; Nu 11:17; De 1:9; De 1:12)

Nu 11:14Nu 11:17De 1:9De 1:12

19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, (Ex 4:16; Ex 20:19; Nu 27:5; De 5:5)

Ex 4:16Ex 20:19Nu 27:5De 5:5

20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. (De 1:18; Ps 143:8) 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (De 1:15; De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5; Ac 6:3)

De 1:15De 16:182Ch 19:5Ac 6:3

22 And 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. (Ex 18:26; Le 24:11; Nu 11:17; Nu 15:33; Nu 27:2; Nu 36:1; De 1:17; De 17:8)

Ex 18:26Le 24:11Nu 11:17Nu 15:33Nu 27:2Nu 36:1De 1:17De 17:8

23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” (Ex 18:18) 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (De 1:15) 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. (Ex 18:22) 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. (Nu 10:29)

圣经当代译本修订版

from Biblica

叶忒罗看望摩西

1 摩西的岳父——米甸的祭司叶忒罗，听说上帝为摩西和祂的子民以色列人所做的一切事——如何带领他们离开埃及， 2 就带着女儿西坡拉和两个外孙去见摩西。西坡拉是摩西的妻子，摩西曾让她回娘家暂时居住。 3 摩西的两个儿子一个叫革舜，因为摩西说：“我成了在异乡寄居的人”； 4 一个叫以利以谢，因为摩西说：“我父亲的上帝帮助我，从法老的刀下拯救了我。” 5 摩西的岳父叶忒罗带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子来到上帝的山，就是摩西在旷野安营的地方。 6 叶忒罗事先差人把他带着摩西的妻子和两个儿子要来的消息通知摩西。 7 摩西出去迎接岳父，向他下拜，与他亲吻，彼此问安，然后大家都进了帐篷。 8 摩西把耶和华为拯救以色列人而向法老和埃及人所行的事，以及怎样救百姓脱离路上遇见的种种困难，都告诉了叶忒罗。 9 叶忒罗为耶和华恩待以色列人、把他们救出埃及而高兴， 10 便说：“耶和华当受称颂，因为祂从埃及人和法老手中拯救了你们，把这百姓从埃及人手中拯救了出来。 11 我现在知道，耶和华比一切神明都伟大，因为祂惩治了虐待这些百姓的狂妄之徒。” 12 摩西的岳父叶忒罗说完，便向上帝献燔祭及其他祭物。亚伦和以色列的长老都来与他一起在上帝面前吃饭。 13 第二天，摩西坐着审理百姓的纠纷，百姓从早到晚都站在摩西周围。 14 摩西的岳父叶忒罗看见摩西对百姓所行的一切，就对摩西说：“你为什么这样处理百姓的事？为什么你独自坐着，众百姓从早到晚都站在你周围？” 15 摩西对岳父说：“他们是来求问上帝的， 16 我亲自审理他们中间的是非，教他们认识上帝的律例和法度。” 17 摩西的岳父叶忒罗劝摩西说：“这不是好方法， 18 你和这些百姓都会疲惫不堪，你一个人无法担当如此繁重的工作。 19 你要听我的劝告，愿上帝与你同在。你要做百姓的代表，把案件奏明上帝， 20 又要教导他们律例和法度，指示他们当行的道、当做的事。 21 此外，要在百姓当中挑选一些敬畏上帝、有才干、诚实、正直、憎恶不义之财的人，派他们做千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长和十夫长，管理百姓。 22 让他们随时为百姓判案，处理小纠纷，遇到大事才由你审理。有他们分担你的责任，你会更轻省。 23 如果你这样做，并且上帝也这样吩咐你，你就能承受得住，百姓也可以平安地回家。” 24 于是，摩西接纳了岳父的建议，依言而行， 25 从百姓中挑选有才干的人，委派他们做千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长和十夫长管理百姓。 26 他们负责随时审理百姓的事，遇到难断的案件就呈到摩西那里，自己则审理普通的事。 27 之后，摩西送岳父上路，他就返回了家乡。