Exodus 18

Jethro's Advice

1 m Jethro, n 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. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her o two sons. The name of the one was Gershom ( p for he said, q "I have been a sojourner 1 in a foreign land"), 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 r mountain of God. 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 s went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and t kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law u 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. 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, v "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. 11 Now I know that w the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they x dealt arrogantly with the people." 4 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 y before God.

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 z the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 a when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I b make them know the statutes of God and his laws." 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. c You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall d represent the people before God and e bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know f the way in which they must walk and g what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for h 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. 22 And i let them judge the people at all times. j 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 k bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be l able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 m 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. 26 And n they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and o he went away to his own country.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 2:18
    When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 18:12
    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.
    Exodus 2:16
    Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 4:20
    So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.
    Acts 7:29
    At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 2:22
    She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 39:12
    Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
    Hebrews 11:13
    These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 3:1
    Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 14:17
    After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).
    Genesis 18:2
    He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth
    Genesis 19:1
    The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth
    1 Kings 2:19
    So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 29:13
    As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
    Genesis 33:4
    But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
    2 Samuel 19:39
    Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home.
  9. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:9 - 15
    And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea.
    Psalms 78:12 - 28
    In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
    Psalms 78:42 - 53
    They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe.
    Psalms 106:7 - 12
    Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 14:20
    And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
    2 Samuel 18:28
    Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.
    Luke 1:68
    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
  11. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 16:25
    For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
    2 Chronicles 2:5
    The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
    Psalms 95:3
    For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
    Psalms 97:9
    For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
    Psalms 135:5
    For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
  12. Cross References
    Nehemiah 9:10
    And performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day.
    Psalms 119:21
    You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
    Daniel 4:37
    Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
    Luke 1:51
    He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 12:7
    And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
    Deuteronomy 14:26
    And spend the money for whatever you desire - oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.
    1 Chronicles 29:22
    And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the Lord, and Zadok as priest.
    Exodus 24:11
    And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.
    Genesis 31:54
    And Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 24:12
    And they put him in custody, till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.
    Numbers 15:34
    They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 24:14
    And he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.
    Deuteronomy 17:8
    If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
    2 Samuel 15:2 - 3
    And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And when he said, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel.
    1 Corinthians 6:1
    When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
  16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:5
    See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
    Deuteronomy 5:1
    And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 11:14
    I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.
    Numbers 11:17
    And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.
    Deuteronomy 1:9
    At that time I said to you, 'I am not able to bear you by myself.
    Deuteronomy 1:12
    How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife?
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 4:16
    He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.
    Exodus 20:19
    And said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.
    Deuteronomy 5:5
    While I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said:
  19. Cross References
    Numbers 27:5
    Moses brought their case before the Lord.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 143:8
    Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:18
    And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
  22. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:15
    So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
    Deuteronomy 16:18
    You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
    2 Chronicles 19:5 - 10
    He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
    Acts 6:3
    Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 18:26
    And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.
  24. Cross References
    Leviticus 24:11
    And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Na...
    Numbers 15:33
    And those who found him gathering sticks brough...
    Numbers 27:2
    And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar ...
    Numbers 36:1
    The heads of the fathers' houses of the clan of...
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall...
    Deuteronomy 17:8
    If any case arises requiring decision between o...
  25. Cross References
    Numbers 11:17
    And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 18:18
    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.
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:15
    So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.
  28. Cross References
    Exodus 18:22
    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.
  29. Cross References
    Numbers 10:29 - 30
    And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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