Exodus 18 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Jethro’s Counsel

(Deu 1:9–18 )

Now Jethro^H3503, the priest^H3548 of Midian^H4080, Moses’^H4872 father-in-law^H2859, heard^H8085 of all^H3605 that God^H430 had done^H6213 for Moses^H4872 and for Israel^H3478 His people^H5971, how^H3588 Yahweh^H3068 had brought^H3318 Israel^H3478 out^H3318 of Egypt^H4714.

Exo 18:2

Exo 18:2And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away,

Exo 18:3

Exo 18:3and her two sons, of whom [fn]one was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been a [fn]sojourner in a foreign land.”

Exo 18:4

Exo 18:4 [fn]And the other was named [fn]Eliezer, for he said, “The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Exo 18:5

Then Jethro^H3503, Moses’^H4872 father-in-law^H2859, came^H935 with his sons^H1121 and his wife^H802 to Moses^H4872 [fn]in the wilderness^H4057 where^H834^H8033 he was camped^H2583, at the mount^H2022 of God^H430.

Exo 18:6

Exo 18:6And he [fn]sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

Exo 18:7

Exo 18:7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent.

Exo 18:8

Exo 18:8And Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how Yahweh had delivered them.

Exo 18:9

Exo 18:9And Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, that He had delivered [fn]them from the hand of the Egyptians.

Exo 18:10

Exo 18:10So Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh 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.

Exo 18:11

Exo 18:11“Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods; [fn]for in this matter they acted presumptuously against [fn]the people.”

Exo 18:12

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

Exo 18:13

Now it happened^H1961 the next^H4283 day^H4283 that Moses^H4872 sat^H3427 to judge^H8199 the people^H5971, and the people^H5971 stood^H5975 about^H5921 Moses^H4872 from the morning^H1242 until^H5704 the evening^H6153.

Exo 18:14

Exo 18:14And Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, so 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?”

Exo 18:15

Exo 18:15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Exo 18:16

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

Exo 18:17

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

Exo 18:18

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

Exo 18:19

Exo 18:19“Now listen to my voice: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [fn]You be the people’s representative before God, and you bring the matters to God;

Exo 18:20

Exo 18:20then warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they shall go and the work they shall do.

Exo 18:21

Exo 18:21“But you shall [fn]select excellent men out of all the people, those who fear God, men of truth, those who hate greedy gain; and you shall place these men over them as leaders of thousands, [fn]of hundreds, [fn]of fifties, and [fn]of tens.

Exo 18:22

Exo 18:22“And they will judge the people at all times. And it will be that every major matter they will bring to you, but every minor matter they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

Exo 18:23

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

Exo 18:24

So Moses^H4872 listened^H8085 to the voice^H6963 of his father-in-law^H2859 and did^H6213 all^H3605 that he had said^H559.

Exo 18:25

Exo 18:25And Moses chose excellent men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [fn]of hundreds, [fn]of fifties, and [fn]of tens.

Exo 18:26