Exodus 18 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

(Deu 1:9–18 )

Now Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Exo 18:2

Exo 18:2Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt],

Exo 18:3

Exo 18:3along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

Exo 18:4

Exo 18:4The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Exo 18:5

Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb].

Exo 18:6

Exo 18:6He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.”

Exo 18:7

Exo 18:7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent.

Exo 18:8

Exo 18:8Moses told his father-in-law about all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the LORD had rescued them.

Exo 18:9

Exo 18:9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.

Exo 18:10

Exo 18:10Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Exo 18:11

Exo 18:11“Now I know that the LORD is [fn]greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the LORD showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].”

Exo 18:12

Exo 18:12Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Exo 18:13

Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk.

Exo 18:14

Exo 18:14When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?”

Exo 18:15

Exo 18:15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.

Exo 18:16

Exo 18:16“When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

Jethro Counsels Moses

Exo 18:17

Exo 18:17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.

Exo 18:18

Exo 18:18“You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone.

Exo 18:19

Exo 18:19“Now listen to [fn]me; [fn]I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him.

Exo 18:20

Exo 18:20“You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.

Exo 18:21

Exo 18:21“Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

Exo 18:22

Exo 18:22“They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

Exo 18:23

Exo 18:23“If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”

Exo 18:24

So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.

Exo 18:25

Exo 18:25Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels].

Exo 18:26

Exo 18:26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves.

Exo 18:27

Exo 18:27Then Moses [fn]said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).

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AMP Footnotes

(18:11)

Jethro is affirming that the LORD (Yahweh) proved Himself superior over the Egyptian deities in the plagues and the exodus.

(18:19)

Lit my voice.

(18:19)

Instead of speaking directly to Moses, God used Jethro. Jethro’s willingness to speak and Moses’ willingness to listen reflects beautifully on the spiritual and emotional maturity of both men and the value of such a relationship.

(18:27)

Lit sent off his father-in-law.

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