Exodus 18

1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.Cross-references: Ex 2:16 · Ex 2:18 · Ex 2:21 · Ex 3:1 · Ex 4:18 · Ex 7:1 · +25 more

2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,Cross-references: Ex 2:21 · Ex 4:25

3and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.Cross-references: Ex 2:22 · Ex 4:20 · Ps 39:12 · Acts 7:29 · Heb 11:13 · 1Pet 2:11

4The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”Cross-references: Ex 2:15 · 1Chr 23:15 · Ps 18:1 · Ps 18:48 · Ps 34:4 · Ps 46:1 · +6 more

5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.Cross-references: Ex 3:1 · Ex 3:12 · Ex 19:11 · Ex 19:20 · Ex 24:16 · 1Ki 19:8

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

7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.Cross-references: Gen 14:17 · Gen 18:2 · Gen 19:1 · Gen 29:13 · Gen 31:28 · Gen 33:3 · +11 more

8Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.Cross-references: Gen 44:34 · Ex 15:6 · Ex 15:16 · Ex 15:22 · Ex 16:3 · Ex 18:1 · +11 more

9Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.Cross-references: Isa 44:23 · Isa 66:10 · Rom 12:10 · Rom 12:15 · 1Cor 12:26

10Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.Cross-references: Gen 14:20 · 2Sam 18:28 · 1Ki 8:15 · Ps 41:13 · Ps 68:19 · Ps 106:47 · +6 more

11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”Cross-references: Ex 1:10 · Ex 1:16 · Ex 1:22 · Ex 5:2 · Ex 5:7 · Ex 9:16 · +23 more

12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.Cross-references: Gen 4:4 · Gen 8:20 · Gen 12:7 · Gen 26:25 · Gen 31:54 · Gen 43:25 · +18 more

13On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.Cross-references: Judg 5:10 · Job 29:7 · Isa 16:5 · Joel 3:12 · Matt 23:2 · Rom 12:8 · +1 more

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”

15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.Cross-references: Ex 18:19 · Lev 24:12 · Num 9:6 · Num 9:8 · Num 15:34 · Num 27:5 · +1 more

16When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”Cross-references: Ex 2:13 · Ex 23:7 · Ex 24:14 · Lev 24:15 · Num 15:35 · Num 27:6 · +12 more

17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.

18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.Cross-references: Num 11:14 · Deut 1:9 · Acts 6:1 · 2Cor 12:15 · Phil 2:30 · 1Thess 2:8

19Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.Cross-references: Gen 39:2 · Ex 3:12 · Ex 4:12 · Ex 4:16 · Ex 18:15 · Ex 18:24 · +8 more

20You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.Cross-references: Ex 18:16 · Deut 1:18 · Deut 4:1 · Deut 4:5 · Deut 5:1 · Deut 6:1 · +14 more

21Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.Cross-references: Gen 22:12 · Gen 42:18 · Ex 18:25 · Ex 23:2 · Num 10:4 · Deut 1:13 · +34 more

22Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.Cross-references: Ex 18:18 · Ex 18:26 · Lev 24:11 · Num 11:17 · Num 15:33 · Num 27:2 · +4 more

23If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”Cross-references: Gen 18:33 · Gen 21:10 · Gen 30:25 · Ex 16:29 · Ex 18:18 · 1Sam 8:6 · +7 more

24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.Cross-references: Ex 18:2 · Ex 18:19 · Ezra 10:2 · Ezra 10:5 · Prov 1:5 · 1Cor 12:21

25Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.Cross-references: Ex 18:21 · Deut 1:15 · Acts 6:5

26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.Cross-references: Ex 18:14 · Ex 18:22 · Deut 17:8 · 1Ki 3:16 · 1Ki 10:1 · Job 29:16

27Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.Cross-references: Gen 24:59 · Gen 31:55 · Num 10:29 · Judg 19:9