Chapter 18
1 Now Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of
Midian, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel: how
the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2
So his father-in-law Jethro took
along Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him, 3 and her two sons. One of these was called Gershom;
for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land." 4 The other was called Eliezer; for he said, "My
father's God is my helper; he has rescued me from Pharaoh's sword." 5 Together with Moses' wife and sons, then, his
father-in-law Jethro came to him in the desert where he was encamped near the
mountain of God, 6 and he sent word to Moses,
"I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and
her two sons." 7 Moses went out to meet his
father-in-law, bowed down before him, and kissed him. Having greeted each
other, they went into the tent. 8 Moses then
told his father-in-law of all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the
Egyptians for the sake of Israel, and of all the hardships they had had to
endure on their journey, and how the LORD had come to their rescue. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness that the LORD
had shown Israel in rescuing them from the hands of the Egyptians. 10 "Blessed be the LORD," he said, "who
has rescued his people from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is a deity great beyond
any other; for he took occasion of their being dealt with insolently to deliver
the people from the power of the Egyptians."
12 Then Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, brought a
holocaust and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of
Israel to participate with Moses' father-in-law in the meal before God.
13 The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people,
who waited about him from morning until evening. 14
When his father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he inquired,
"What sort of thing is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you
sit alone while all the people have to stand about you from morning till
evening?" 15 Moses answered his
father-in-law, "The people come to me to consult God. 16 Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me
to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God's
decisions and regulations." 17 "You
are not acting wisely," his father-in-law replied. 18 "You will surely wear yourself out, and not only yourself
but also these people with you. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it
alone. 19 Now, listen to me, and I will give you
some advice, that God may be with you. Act as the people's representative
before God, bringing to him whatever they have to say. 20
Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how
they are to live and what they are to do. 21 But
you should also look among all the people for able and God-fearing men,
trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and set them as officers over groups
of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22
Let these men render decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. More
important cases they should refer to you, but all the lesser cases they can
settle themselves. Thus, your burden will be lightened, since they will bear it
with you. 23 If you do this, when God gives you
orders you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home
satisfied."
24 Moses followed the advice of his father-in-law and
did all that he had suggested. 25 He picked out
able men from all Israel and put them in charge of the people as officers over
groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 They rendered decisions for the people in all
ordinary cases. The more difficult cases they referred to Moses, but all the
lesser cases they settled themselves.
27 Then Moses bade farewell to his father-in-law, who
went off to his own country.
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