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
0:00 0:00

Jethro Hears and Returns Moses' Family

1
When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; ​
2
Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, ​
3
And her two sons; of which the name of the one was 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 sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: ​
6
And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

Reunion and Shared Worship

7
And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. ​
8
And 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 upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
9
And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10
And 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 delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. ​
12
And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God. ​

Jethro Counsels Moses on Judging

13
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. ​
14
And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16
When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. ​
18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: ​
20
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: ​
22
And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. ​

Moses Implements the Structure

24
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25
And 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
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Jethro Returns Home

27
And 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