Dual Panel1JETHRO priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2When Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, Jethro his father-in-law had received her
3and her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, “for”, said Moses, “I have become an alien living in a foreign land”;
4the other's name was Eliezer, “for”, he said, “the God of my father was my help and saved me from Pharaoh's sword.”
5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, now came to him with his sons and his wife, to the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
6Moses was told, “Here is Jethro, your father-in-law, coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed low to him, and kissed him. After they had greeted one another and come into the tent,
8Moses told him all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel's sake, and about all their hardships on the journey, and how the LORD had saved them.
9Jethro rejoiced at all the good the LORD had done for Israel in saving them from the power of Egypt.
10He said, “Blessed be the LORD who has delivered you from the power of Egypt and of Pharaoh. Now I know that the LORD is the greatest of all gods, because he has delivered the people from the Egyptians who dealt so arrogantly with them.”
11(18:10)
12Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a whole-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came and shared the meal with Jethro in the presence of God.
13The next day Moses took his seat to settle disputes among the people, and he was surrounded from morning till evening.
14At the sight of all that he was doing for the people, Jethro asked, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone with all of them standing round you from morning till evening?”
15“The people come to me to seek God's guidance,” Moses answered.
16“Whenever there is a dispute among them, they come to me, and I decide between one party and the other. I make known the statutes and laws of God.”
17His father-in-law said to him, “This is not the best way to do it.
18You will only wear yourself out and wear out the people who are here. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
19Now listen to me: take my advice, and God be with you. It is for you to be the people's representative before God, and bring their disputes to him,
20to instruct them in the statutes and laws, and teach them how they must behave and what they must do.
21But you should search for capable, godfearing men among all the people, honest and incorruptible men, and appoint them over the people as officers over units of a thousand, of a hundred, of fifty, or of ten.
22They can act as judges for the people at all times; difficult cases they should refer to you, but decide simple cases themselves. In this way your burden will be lightened, as they will be sharing it with you.
23If you do this, then God will direct you and you will be able to go on. And, moreover, this whole people will arrive at its destination in harmony.”
24Moses heeded his father-in-law and did all he had suggested.
25He chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them leaders of the people, officers over units of a thousand, of a hundred, of fifty, or of ten.
26They sat as a permanent court, bringing the difficult cases to Moses but deciding simple cases themselves.
27When his father-in-law went back to his own country, Moses set him on his way.