Exodus 18

1Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after Moses had sent her away,

3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”

4The other was named Eliezer, for he had said, “The God of my father was my help and rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.”

5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was camped at the mountain of God.

6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed down and kissed him, and they asked each other how they were. Then they went into the tent.

8Moses told his father-in-law everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship they had met along the way, and how Yahweh had rescued them.

9Jethro rejoiced over all the good Yahweh had done for Israel in rescuing them from the power of the Egyptians.

10Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods, for he did this in the very matter in which they acted arrogantly against Israel.”

12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”

15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between one person and another and make known the statutes of God and his laws.”

17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you, for the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.

19Now listen to me. I will give you advice, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring their disputes to God.

20Teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way they are to walk and the work they are to do.

21But select from all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and appoint them over the people as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

22Let them judge the people at all times. Every major case they are to bring to you, but every minor case they can judge themselves. That will make it lighter for you, and they will share the load with you.

23If you do this and God so commands you, you will be able to endure, and all these people will go home in peace.”

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

26They judged the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but every minor case they judged themselves.

27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went back to his own land.