ExodusChapter 18
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1Moses' father-in-law Jethro was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel. He heard how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back home. His father-in-law Jethro had taken her in, 3along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."a 4The other son was named Eliezer, because Moses had said, "The God of my father was my helper. He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh."b 5Moses' father-in-law Jethro came to Moses in the desert. He brought Moses' wife and sons with him. Moses was camped at the mountain of God. 6Jethro sent a message to Moses. It said, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you. I am bringing your wife and her two sons." 7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. 8Then Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about all the troubles they had faced along the way. And he told how the LORD had saved them. 9Jethro was glad about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. He had rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. 10Jethro said, "Praise the LORD! He has saved you from the power of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh. He has saved the people from the power of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods. He showed it when the Egyptians treated Israel with such pride." 12Then Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel. They ate a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God. 13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people's cases. The people stood around him from morning until evening. 14His father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people. He asked, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit as judge all by yourself? Why do all the people stand around you from morning until evening?" 15Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to ask God what to do. 16When they have an argument, they bring it to me. I decide which person is right. And I teach them God's laws and rules." 17But Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 18You and these people with you will surely wear yourselves out. The job is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone. 19Now listen to me. I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak for the people before God. You must bring their cases to him. 20Teach them God's laws and rules. Show them the way they should live. Show them the work they must do. 21Also, choose able men from among the people. They must fear God. They must be men you can trust, who hate to take money in wrong ways. Put them over the people as leaders. Some will lead groups of a thousand, others a hundred, others fifty, and others ten. 22Let these men judge the people at all times. They can bring every big case to you. But they can judge all the small cases themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23If you follow this advice and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep going. And all these people can go home in peace." 24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25Moses chose able men from all Israel. He made them heads over the people. They were leaders of groups of a thousand, a hundred, fifty, and ten. 26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they judged every small case themselves. 27Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. And Jethro went back to his own land.