Exodus 18:26

And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

And they judged {H8199} the people {H5971} at all seasons {H6256}: the hard {H7186} causes {H1697} they brought {H935} unto Moses {H4872}, but every small {H6996} matter {H1697}{H1992} they judged {H8199} themselves.

As a general rule, they settled the people's disputes - the difficult cases they brought to Moshe, but every simple matter they decided themselves.

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

And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Commentary

Exodus 18:26 details the successful implementation of the judicial system proposed by Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. This verse highlights the practical application of wisdom in leadership, showing how the workload of judging the people of Israel was effectively delegated to a newly appointed hierarchy of judges.

Historical and Cultural Context

Prior to this, Moses bore the sole responsibility of adjudicating all disputes among the Israelites, a task that was clearly overwhelming him and causing significant delays for the people (Exodus 18:13). Jethro, observing this unsustainable burden, offered strategic counsel. He advised Moses to select capable, God-fearing men to serve as judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, to handle the vast majority of cases. This system, outlined in Exodus 18:21-22, allowed for a more efficient and accessible administration of justice within the newly formed nation of Israel. Verse 26 confirms that this organizational structure was put into immediate effect, bringing order and relief.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Wise Delegation and Leadership: The verse powerfully illustrates the critical importance of delegation for effective leadership. Moses, despite his unique role, could not manage everything alone. True wisdom in leadership involves empowering others and distributing responsibilities.
  • Efficiency and Order: By establishing a tiered judicial system, the Israelites could receive justice "at all seasons," meaning consistently and without undue delay. This structure ensured that common issues were resolved quickly, while complex or "hard causes" were escalated to Moses, who could seek divine guidance.
  • Accessibility of Justice: The system made justice more accessible to all. Every "small matter" was attended to by the appointed judges, ensuring that no grievance was overlooked, and the community benefited from a more orderly and fair process.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb for "judged" in this verse is shaphat (שָׁ׀ַט), which carries a broader meaning than simply rendering a legal verdict. It encompasses governing, administering justice, settling disputes, and even leading. This highlights the comprehensive role these appointed individuals played in the daily lives of the Israelites. The distinction between "hard causes" and "small matter" demonstrates a practical approach to problem-solving, recognizing that not all issues require the same level of authority or discernment.

Practical Application

The principles found in Exodus 18:26 remain highly relevant for leadership and organization today, whether in businesses, governmental bodies, churches, or even families. It teaches us the importance of:

  • Preventing Burnout: Leaders must acknowledge their limitations and be willing to delegate to avoid exhaustion and maintain effectiveness.
  • Empowering Others: Entrusting responsibilities to capable individuals not only lightens the leader's load but also develops and empowers members within the team or community. This principle is mirrored in the early church's decision to appoint deacons to handle practical matters, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the word (see Acts 6:1-7).
  • Building Effective Systems: Implementing clear processes and a distributed structure for decision-making and problem-solving leads to greater efficiency, accountability, and better service for all involved.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that wise leadership involves not only making decisions but also building a functional, equitable system for justice and administration that serves the entire community effectively and sustainably.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 18:22

    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.

  • Exodus 18:14

    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?

  • Exodus 18:15

    And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

  • Job 29:16

    I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.

  • 1 Kings 3:16

    ΒΆ Then came there two women, [that were] harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

  • 1 Kings 3:28

    And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God [was] in him, to do judgment.

  • Deuteronomy 17:8

    ΒΆ If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, [being] matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
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