Exodus18

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, reunited with Moses, bringing his wife and sons. After hearing of God's deliverance of Israel, Jethro praised the LORD. Observing Moses' overwhelming task of judging the people, Jethro advised him to delegate authority by appointing righteous men to judge smaller matters, which Moses promptly implemented.

Listen to this chapter

Jethro Hears and Returns Moses' Family

Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

Reunion and Shared Worship

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.

Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

Jethro Counsels Moses on Judging

The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.

Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

Moses Implements the Structure

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

Jethro Returns Home

Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.

Study Notes for Exodus 18

Verse 1

Jethro, the priest of Midian, was Moses’ father-in-law (also called Reuel or Hobab elsewhere). His hearing of God’s mighty acts demonstrates that Yahweh’s reputation was spreading to surrounding nations, publicly validating the deliverance.

Verse 2

Zipporah had been sent back to Midian earlier, likely during the crisis described in Exodus 4:24-26 or for safety before Moses returned to Egypt. Her return marks the reunification of Moses' immediate family.

Verse 4

Eliezer means 'My God is help.' This name reflects Moses' personal deliverance from Pharaoh's initial attempts on his life, contrasting with Gershom ('alien'), which marked his initial exile.

Verse 5

The 'mount of God' is Mount Horeb (Sinai), where Moses first encountered God in the burning bush (Ex. 3) and where the Law will soon be delivered. Their encampment here sets the stage for the organizational lessons to come.

Verse 7

Moses' act of obeisance (bowing) and kissing Jethro shows deep respect for his father-in-law, even though Moses is now the divinely appointed leader of a nation.

Verse 11

Jethro’s declaration, 'I know that the LORD is greater than all gods,' is a powerful confession of monotheistic faith by a Gentile. The phrase 'wherein they dealt proudly' refers specifically to the arrogance of the Egyptians and their subsequent defeat in the Red Sea.

Verse 12

The shared sacrificial meal before God signifies covenant fellowship and communal worship. By eating with Moses, Aaron, and the elders, Jethro is integrated into the spiritual life and leadership of Israel.

Verse 13

Moses acts as the sole judge and mediator, spending exhausting hours resolving disputes and teaching divine statutes. This highlights the immense, unsustainable burden of centralized leadership.

Verse 17

Jethro’s assessment, 'The thing that thou doest is not good,' is a crucial moment where human administrative wisdom is applied to divine work. The counsel is practical, aimed at preventing burnout and inefficiency.

Verse 19

Jethro advises Moses to retain his primary, unique role as intercessor (bringing causes to God) and chief law teacher, while delegating the judicial application of those laws.

Verse 21

This verse establishes the foundational criteria for delegating leadership: competence ('able men'), piety ('fear God'), integrity ('men of truth'), and moral purity ('hating covetousness'). This structure forms the basis for judicial organization in Israel.

Verse 23

Jethro qualifies his counsel by stating that Moses must proceed 'if God command thee so,' ensuring that the organizational change respects Moses' unique relationship with Yahweh and receives divine sanction.

Verse 27

Jethro’s departure marks the end of his crucial contribution. This account demonstrates that valuable administrative wisdom and organizational counsel can come from outside the covenant community, provided it serves God’s people.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Exodus18

Jethro Hears and Returns Moses' Family

Reunion and Shared Worship

Jethro Counsels Moses on Judging

Moses Implements the Structure

Jethro Returns Home

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options