Exodus 18

Exodus 18:1 Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, a priest of Midian, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how Yahveh had rescued Israel from Egypt.

Exodus 18:2 Previously, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her for a visit,

Exodus 18:3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (because he said, “I have been a foreign guest in a foreign land”),

Exodus 18:4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (because he said, “The God of my father has been my partner,[1] and stripped me from the sword of Pharaoh”).

Exodus 18:5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the open country where he was camped at the mountain of God.

Exodus 18:6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”

Exodus 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked how each other were and went into the tent.

Exodus 18:8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahveh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the trouble that had come upon them along the way, and how Yahveh had stripped them.

Exodus 18:9 And Jethro rejoiced because of all the good that Yahveh had done to Israel, particularly that he had stripped them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Exodus 18:10 Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahveh, who has stripped you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has stripped the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Exodus 18:11 Now I know that Yahveh is greater than all gods, because in this thing they dealt arrogantly against the people.”

Exodus 18:12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought an ascending offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

Exodus 18:14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, then he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit apart, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Exodus 18:15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people are coming to me to inquire of God;

Exodus 18:16 when they have a case, they come to me and I decide between one man and his companion, and I make them know the prescribed tasks of God and his instructions.”

Exodus 18:17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not right.

Exodus 18:18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, because the thing is too much for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Exodus 18:19 Now listen to my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to God,

Exodus 18:20 and you should warn them about the prescribed tasks and the instructions and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

Exodus 18:21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are reliable[2] and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as officials for thousands, for hundreds, for fifties, and for tens.

Exodus 18:22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every major case they will bring to you, but any minor case they will decide themselves. So, it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

Exodus 18:23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

Exodus 18:24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

Exodus 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, officials for thousands, for hundreds, for fifties, and for tens.

Exodus 18:26 And they judged the people at all times. Any major case they brought to Moses, but any minor matter they decided themselves.

Exodus 18:27 Then Moses let his father-in-law leave, and he went back to his own country.

[1]עֵזֶר = partner.

[2] אֱמֶת = reliable, reliability. Exodus 18:21; 34:6.

Exodus 18 quotes:

“The history of some churches and the expectations placed upon the pastor by some congregations and the pastors themselves have stifled team development. For The Jethro Ministry to work the advice of Jethro to Moses can never be forgotten, “You cannot do it alone.”

Roach, J. Dale. Jethro Ministry: A Biblical Strategy for Strong Teamwork. Westbow Press, 2015. p. 135.

“The pastor needs the help and assistance of other leaders in the church in order to be effective in his office. A classic example of this can be seen in Moses. Moses wanted to do everything by himself. He was encouraged by Jethro, his father in law, to enlist the help of other leaders (see Exodus 18:13).”

Guns, Geoffrey V. Spiritual Leadership : A Guide to Developing Spiritual Leaders in the Church. Orman Press, 2000. p. 18.

“This time when Moses needed help, the solution did not come in a voice on the mountain or in any other spectacular way. In a very ordinary way with no fanfare, Moses’ father-in-law made a suggestion. Moses did not automatically accept his father-inlaw’s advice. In fact, Jethro, himself, qualified his suggestion by saying, “If … God command thee so …” (Exodus 18:23). It was Moses’ responsibility to determine for himself if this advice was God’s will. As it turned out, Jethro’s suggestion was put into practice and the problem was solved.”

Lassetter, J. Stuart. Manna from Moses: 101 Morsels for Successful Christian Leadership. Morris Pub., 2000. p. 27.