Exodus, Chapter 18:
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Verses from Exodus, Chapter 18 of the book of Exodus in the Bible.
Jethro visits Moses
- 1. Jethro, priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, learned everything that God had done for his people Israel and how the Lord had brought them out of Egypt.
- 2. Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah, whom Moses had sent back,
- 3. and his two children. The name of one was Gershom, for Moses had said: “I was a stranger in a strange land.”
- 4. And the name of the other was Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
- 5. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, with Moses' sons and wife, came to the wilderness, where Moses was camped on the mountain of God.
- 6. They said to Moses, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, come to you with your wife and your two sons.”
- 7. Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and entered the tent.
- 8. Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the difficulties they had encountered on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
- 9. Jethro rejoiced over all the kindness the Lord had shown Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.
- 10. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people out of the hand of the Egyptians!
- 11. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, for this is what they conspired against them.”
- 12. Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the leaders of Israel came to eat with Moses' father-in-law before God.
- 13. The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and they stood around him from dawn to dusk.
- 14. When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone, while all the people stand around you from dawn until dusk?”
- 15. Moses answered him, “Because people come to me to inquire of God.
- 16. When they have a dispute, they come to me, and I judge between one and another, and make known the decrees of God and his laws.”
- 17. Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good!
- 18. Surely you and these people will be exhausted, for this task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone.
- 19. Now listen to me, and I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You must represent the people before God, and present their causes to God.
- 20. You must teach them the decrees and laws, show them the way to follow and the practices they should adopt.
- 21. But choose from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and enemies of dishonest gain. Establish them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
- 22. They will judge the people at all times. Every great cause they will bring to you, but every small cause they will judge themselves. This will make it easier for you, and they will share the burden with you.
- 23. If you do this, and God commands you, you will be able to withstand the pressure, and all these people will return home in peace.”
- 24. Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and did everything he said.
- 25. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people: leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
- 26. They judged the people on every occasion; difficult cases they brought to Moses, but every small case they themselves judged.
- 27. Then Moses sent his father-in-law away, and he returned to his own country.
