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.

Jethro Hears and Returns Moses' Family

1
Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. ​
2
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away, ​
3
and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.
4
The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.” ​
5
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God. ​
6
He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.”

Reunion and Shared Worship

7
Moses 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. ​
8
Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD 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 the LORD delivered them.
9
Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10
Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, 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.
11
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.” ​
12
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. ​

Jethro Counsels Moses on Judging

13
On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. ​
14
When 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?”
15
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
16
When 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.”
17
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. ​
18
You 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.
19
Listen 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. ​
20
You 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.
21
Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as 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. ​
22
Let 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.
23
If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace.” ​

Moses Implements the Structure

24
So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
25
Moses 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.
26
They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Jethro Returns Home

27
Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into 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
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options