Exodus Chapter 18

Exodus Chapter 18
1 When Jethro the priest of Midian
Moses’ father in law heard all that God
had done for Moses, and for Israel his
people, and how the Lord had brought
Israel out of Egypt,
2 Then Jethro the father in law of Moses,
took Zipporah Moses’ wife, (after he
had sent her away)
3 And her two sons, (whereof the one
was called Gershom: for he said, I have
been an alien in a strange land:
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer:
for the God of my father, said he, was
mine help, and delivered me from the
sword of Pharaoh) 5 And Jethro Moses’
father in law came with his two sons,
and his wife unto Moses into the
wilderness, where he camped by the
mount of God. 6 And he said to Moses, I
thy father in law Jethro am come to thee,
and thy wife and her two sons with her.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father
in law, and did obeisance and kissed
him, and each asked other of his
welfare: and they came into the tent. 8
Then Moses told his father in law all
that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and
to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and
all the travail that had come unto them by
the way, and how the Lord delivered
them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced at all the
goodness, which the Lord had showed to
Israel , and because he had delivered
them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10
Therefore Jethro said, Blessed be the
Lord who hath delivered you out of the
hand of the Egyptians, and out of the
hand of Pharaoh: who
hath also delivered the people from
under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now
I know that the Lord is greater than all
the gods: for as they have dealt proudly
with them, so are they recompensed.
12 Then Jethro Moses’ father in law
took burnt offerings and sacrifices to
offer unto God. And Aaron and all the
elders of Israel came to eat bread with
Moses’ father in law before God.
13 Now on the morrow, when Moses sat
to judge the people, the people stood
about Moses from morning unto even.
14 And when Moses’ father in law saw
all that he did to the people, he said,
What is this that thou doest to the
people? Why sittest thou thyself alone,
and all the people stand about thee from
morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in
law, Because the people come unto me
to seek God.
16 When they have a matter, they come
unto me, and I judge between one and
another, and declare the ordinances of
God, and his laws.
17 But Moses’ father in law said unto
him, The thing, which thou doest, is not
well.
18 Thou both weariest thyself greatly,
and this people that is with thee: for the
thing is too heavy for thee: thou art not
able to do it thyself alone. 19 Hear now
my voice, (I will give thee counsel, and
God shall be with thee) be thou for the
people to God-ward, and report thou the
causes unto God, 20 And admonish them
of the ordinances, and of the laws, and
show them the way, wherein they must
walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover, provide thou among all
the people men of courage, fearing God,
men dealing truly, hating covetousness:
and appoint such over them to be rulers
over thousands, rulers over hundreds,
rulers over fifties, and rulers over tens.
22 And let them judge the people at all
seasons: but every great matter let them
bring unto thee, and let them judge all
small causes: so shall it be easier for
thee, when they shall bear the burden
with thee.
23 If thou do this thing, (and God so
command thee) both thou shalt be able to
endure, and all this people shall also go
quietly to their place. 24 So Moses
obeyed the voice of his father in law,
and did all that he had said:
25 And Moses chose men of courage out
of all Israel, and made them heads over
the people, rulers over thousands, rulers
over hundreds, rulers over fifties, and
rulers over tens.
26 And they judged the people at all
seasons, but they brought the hard causes
unto Moses: for they judged all small
matters themselves. 27 Afterward Moses
let his father in law depart, and he went
into his country.