Exodus 18
1 Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard everything God had done for Moses and for Israel, his people: how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, with him. Moses had sent her back.
3 He also took her two sons. One was named Gershom, because Moses had said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 The other was named Eliezer, because Moses had said, “The God of my father came to my aid and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and wife to meet him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God.
6 He sent word to Moses, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other how things were, then went into the tent.
8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had faced along the way, and how the LORD had rescued them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good the LORD had done for Israel by rescuing them from Egypt’s power.
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who rescued you from Egypt’s power and from Pharaoh’s power, and who rescued the people from Egypt’s power.
11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because they acted arrogantly against the people in the very matter by which they were brought down.”
12 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13 The next day, Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood before him from morning until evening.
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he said, “What are you doing for the people? Why are you sitting here alone while all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
15 Moses answered his father-in-law, “The people come to me to seek God’s guidance.
16 Whenever they have a dispute, they come to me, and I judge between one person and another. I make known God’s decrees and instructions.”
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18 You and these people with you will wear yourselves out completely. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to him.
20 Teach them the decrees and instructions, and make known to them the way they should go and what they should do.
21 But choose from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
22 Let them judge the people at all times. They can bring every major case to you, while they judge every minor case themselves. This will lighten your load, and they will share it with you.
23 If you do this, and God directs you to do so, you will be able to endure, and all these people will return to their place in peace.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said.
25 Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people: leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the difficult cases to Moses, but judged every minor case themselves.
27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went back to his own land.
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