Jethro visits Moses and gives wise counsel

18:1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 18:2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah after he had sent her back, 18:3 and her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land”), 18:4 and the other Eliezer (for Moses had said, “The God of my father has been my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 18:5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camping by the mountain of God. 18:6 he said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons with her.” 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him; they each asked about the other’s welfare, and then they went into the tent. 18:8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel’s sake, and all the hardship that had come on them along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 18:9 Jethro rejoiced because of all the good that the Lord had done for Israel, whom he had delivered from the hand of Egypt. 18:10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from the Egyptians’ control! 18:11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them.” 18:12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat food with the father-in-law of Moses before God. 18:13 On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. 18:14 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 are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 18:15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 18:16 When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.” 18:17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good! 18:18 You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. 18:19 Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; 18:20 warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 18:21 But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 18:22 they will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. 18:23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.” 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. 18:25 Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 18:26 they judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves. 18:27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and so Jethro went to his own land.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Jethro hears what the Lord has done to save Israel, rejoices, blesses the Lord, and offers sacrifice before God. He then sees that Moses is carrying too much alone and wisely advises him to appoint capable men to judge smaller cases, while Moses handles the harder matters and continues to represent the people before God.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law and a priest of Midian, comes to Moses in the wilderness with Moses’ wife and sons. Moses welcomes him with honor and tells him what the Lord has done to rescue Israel from Egypt. Jethro rejoices, blesses the Lord, and says that the Lord is greater than all other gods. He then offers sacrifice to God, and Aaron and the elders share a meal before God with him.

The next day, Jethro sees Moses judging the people from morning until evening. Moses explains that the people come to him for God’s instruction and to settle disputes. Jethro says this is not good, because the burden is too heavy for one man. He tells Moses to keep serving as the people’s representative before God and to teach them God’s statutes and laws. Moses should then choose capable, God-fearing, truthful men who hate bribes to judge the ordinary cases. Only the hard cases should come to Moses. Moses listens and does what Jethro says.

• The Lord had delivered Israel from Egypt.
• Jethro recognized the Lord’s greatness and rejoiced in his saving work.
• Jethro offered sacrifice to God, and Aaron and the elders ate before God with him.
• Moses was judging the people because they came to him for God’s instruction and for disputes.
• It was not good for Moses to carry the whole burden alone.
• God’s people need qualified leaders who fear God, love truth, and hate bribes.
• Ordinary cases could be delegated, while hard cases remained with Moses.
• Moses obeyed wise counsel and appointed capable men over the people.

• Praise the Lord for His saving power.
• Do not place an unbearable burden on one leader alone.
• Teach God’s statutes and laws to the people.
• Choose capable, God-fearing, truthful men who hate bribes.
• Delegate ordinary cases and reserve hard matters for careful judgment.

This passage stands between the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the law at Sinai. God has already redeemed His people, and now he begins to order their life as a covenant people under his rule. The chapter shows that the Lord not only saves but also governs his people with wise and just order.

God’s people still need both worship and wise order. Leaders should not try to do everything alone. They should share burdens with trustworthy people. Those who serve in positions of judgment or oversight must fear God, tell the truth, and refuse corruption. This passage should be applied mainly as wise counsel from Israel’s wilderness life under Moses, not as a direct blueprint for every later church or organization.

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