Exodus 18:13-26

Jethro's Advice

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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?
  3. 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.
  4. 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?
  5. 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:
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 27:5
    Moses brought their case before the Lord.
  7. 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.
  8. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:18
    And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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...
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.