Chapter 18
1Now Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel and how AO had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, [his] father-in-law had received her
3along with her two sons. One [son] was named Gershom for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4The 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.”
5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
6He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that AO had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way and how AO had delivered them.
9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things AO had done for Israel whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
10Jethro declared, “Blessed [be] AO 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.
11Now I know that AO is greater than all other gods for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought an 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.
13The next day, Moses took his seat to judge the people and they stood around [him] from morning until evening.
14When [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?”
15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
16“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.”
17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.
19Now 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.
20Teach them the statutes and laws and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
21Furthermore, select from among the people—God-fearing capable men, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands of hundreds of fifties and of tens.
22Have [these men] judge the people at all times. Then any major issue they can bring you but all minor cases they can judge on their own so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.
23If 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.”
24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25So 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.
26And they judged the people at all times; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
27Then Moses sent his father-in-law {on his way} and [Jethro] returned to his own land.