Jethro’s Advice
1 AndJethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all thatGod had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that theLordhad brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, tookZipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
3 with hertwo sons, of whom the name of onewasGershom (for he said,“I have been a stranger in a foreign land”)
4 and the name of the otherwasEliezer (forhesaid,“The God of my fatherwasmyhelp, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”);
5 and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped atthe mountain of God.
6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”
7 So Moseswent out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, andkissed him. And they asked each other abouttheirwell-being, and they went into the tent.
8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that theLordhad done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, andhowtheLordhaddelivered them.
9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all thegood which theLordhad done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said,“BlessedbetheLord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh,andwho has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that theLordisgreater than all the gods;for in the very thing in which they behavedproudly,Hewasabove them.”
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burntoffering andothersacrificestoofferto God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israelto eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 And so it was, on the next day, that Mosessat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.
14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “Whatisthis thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Becausethe people come to me to inquire of God.
16 When they havea difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you doisnot good.
18 Both you and these people whoarewith you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thingistoo much for you;you are not able to perform it by yourself.
19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Standbefore God for the people, so that you maybring the difficulties to God.
20 And you shallteach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk andthe work they must do.
21 Moreover you shall select from all the peopleable men, such asfear God,men of truth,hating covetousness; and placesuchover themtoberulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
22 And let them judge the people at all times.Then it will bethatevery great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, forthey will beartheburdenwith you.
23 If you do this thing, and Godsocommands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to theirplace in peace.”
24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
25 AndMoses 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.
26 So they judged the people at all times; thehard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, andhe went his way to his own land.