1Jethro, 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)2Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home,3along 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)4and 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”).5Jethro, 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)6And 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,”7Moses 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)8Then 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)9And 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.10Jethro 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)11Now 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)12And 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)13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.14When 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?”15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; (Le 24:12; Nu 15:34)16when 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)17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.18You 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)19Now 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)20and 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)21Moreover, 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)22And 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)23If 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)24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.25Moses 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)26And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. (Ex 18:22)27Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. (Nu 10:29)
Exodus 18
New International Version
Jethro visits Moses
1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.2After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro received her3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom,[1] for Moses said, ‘I have become a foreigner in a foreign land’;4and the other was named Eliezer,[2] for he said, ‘My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.’5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.6Jethro had sent word to him, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.’7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.8Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved them.9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.10He said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.’12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.13The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood round him from morning till evening.14When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand round you from morning till evening?’15Moses answered him, ‘Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.16Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.’17Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good.18You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.19Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.20Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.21But select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.22Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but let them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.23If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.’24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.25He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.26They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
Exodus 18
King James Version
1When Jethro, 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;2Then Jethro, Moses'father in law, took Zipporah, Moses'wife, after he had sent her back,3And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:4And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:5And Jethro, Moses'father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:6And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.8And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel' sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.10And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.12And Jethro, Moses'father in law, took 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.13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.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 thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?15And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.17And Moses'father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:22And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so , then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.25And Moses 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.26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.27And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
Exodus 18
New International Reader’s Version
Jethro visits Moses
1Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel. Jethro heard how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.2Moses had sent his wife Zipporah to his father-in-law. So Jethro welcomed her3and her two sons. One son was named Gershom. That’s because Moses had said, ‘I’m an outsider in a strange land.’4The other was named Eliezer. That’s because Moses had said, ‘My father’s God helped me. He saved me from Pharaoh’s sword.’5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro came to Moses in the desert. Moses’ sons and wife came with Jethro. Moses was camped near the mountain of God.6Jethro had sent a message to him. It said, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you. I’m bringing your wife and her two sons.’7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other. Then they went into the tent.8Moses told Jethro everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The LORD did all of this because of how much he loved Israel. Moses told Jethro about all their hard times along the way. He told him about how the LORD had saved them.9Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. He heard about how God had saved them from the power of the Egyptians.10He said, ‘I praise the LORD. He saved you and your people from the power of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh.11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods. See what he did to those who looked down on Israel.’12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel. They ate a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the sight of God.13The next day Moses took his seat to serve the people as their judge. They stood around him from morning until evening.14His father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people. So he said, ‘Aren’t you trying to do too much for the people? You are the only judge. And all these people are standing around you from morning until evening.’15Moses answered, ‘The people come to me to find out what God wants them to do.16Anytime they don’t agree with one another, they come to me. I decide between them. I tell them about God’s rules and instructions.’17Moses’ father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing isn’t good.18You will just get worn out. And so will these people who come to you. There’s too much work for you. You can’t possibly handle it by yourself.19Listen to me. I’ll give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak to God for the people. Take their problems to him.20Teach them his rules and instructions. Show them how to live and what to do.21But choose men of ability from all the people. They must have respect for God. You must be able to trust them. They must not try to get money by cheating others. Appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.22Let them serve the people as judges. But let them bring every hard case to you. They can decide the easy ones themselves. That will make your load lighter. They will share it with you.23If this is what God wants and if you do it, then you will be able to carry the load. And all these people will go home satisfied.’24Moses listened to his father-in-law. He did everything Jethro said.25He chose men of ability from the whole community of Israel. He made them leaders of the people. They became officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they decided the easy ones themselves.27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. So Jethro returned to his own country.