1 Now AEx 2:16, 18; 3:1Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Loʀᴅ had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife AEx 2:21; 4:25Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her AEx 2:22; 4:20; Acts 7:29two sons, of whom 1Lit the name of the one wasone was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been BEx 2:22a 2Heb gersojourner in a foreign land.” 4 1Lit The name of the other wasThe other was named 2Heb El-ezer; i.e. my God is helpA1 Chr 23:15, 17Eliezer, for he said, “BGen 49:25The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses 1Lit untoin the wilderness where he was camped, at AEx 3:1, 12; 4:27; 24:13the mount of God. 6 He 1Lit saidsent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and AGen 43:26, 28he bowed down and BGen 29:13; Ex 4:27kissed him; and they CGen 43:27; 2 Sam 11:7asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Loʀᴅ had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians AEx 4:23; 7:4, 5for Israel’s sake, all the BNum 20:14; Neh 9:32hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how CEx 15:6, 16the Loʀᴅ had delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced over all AIs 63:7-14the goodness which the Loʀᴅ had done to Israel, 1Lit in that He had deliveredin delivering 2Lit himthem from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “AGen 14:20; 2 Sam 18:28; 1 Kin 8:56; Ps 68:19, 20Blessed be the Loʀᴅ who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11  “Now I know that AEx 12:12; 15:11; 2 Chr 2:5; Ps 95:3; 97:9; 135:5the Loʀᴅ is greater than all the gods; 1Lit indeed, in the thing in which theyindeed, BLuke 1:51it was proven when they dealt proudly against 2Lit themthe people.” 12 AGen 31:54; Ex 24:5Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat 1Lit breada meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me ANum 9:6, 8; 27:5; Deut 17:8-13to inquire of God. 16  “When they have a 1Lit matterAEx 24:14dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18  “ANum 11:14, 17; Deut 1:12You will surely wear out, both yourself and 1Lit thisthese people who are with you, for the 2Lit mattertask is too heavy for you; BDeut 1:9you cannot do it alone. 19  “Now listen to 1Lit my voiceme: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. 2Lit You be for the people in front of GodYou be the people’s representative before God, and you ANum 27:5bring the 3Lit mattersdisputes to God, 20 ADeut 1:18; 4:1, 5; 5:1then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them BPs 143:8the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21  “Furthermore, you shall 1Lit seeselect out of all the people AEx 18:25; Deut 1:13, 15; 2 Chr 19:5-10; Ps 15:1-5; Acts 6:3able men BGen 42:18; 2 Sam 23:3who fear God, men of truth, those who CDeut 16:19hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, 2Lit leaders ofof hundreds, 2Lit leaders ofof fifties and 2Lit leaders ofof tens. 22  “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be ADeut 1:17, 18that every major 1Lit matterdispute they will bring to you, but every minor 1Lit matterdispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and BNum 11:17they will bear the burden with you. 23  “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to 1Lit standendure, and all 2Lit thisthese people also will go to 3Lit histheir place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened 1Lit to the voice ofto his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose AEx 18:21; Deut 1:15able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, 1Lit leaders ofof hundreds, 1Lit leaders ofof fifties and 1Lit leaders ofof tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; AEx 18:22the difficult 1Lit matterdispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor 1Lit matterdispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses 1Lit sent off his father-in-lawANum 10:29, 30bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.