Exodus 18
A Burden Too Heavy for One Man Alone
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Jethro’s Arrival
18:1Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that the Lord had done for Israel His own people, for the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.
18:2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent away,
18:3and his two sons. One of them was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I was a sojourner in a foreign land.”
18:4The second was named Eliezer, for he had said, “My father’s God was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh’s hand.”
18:5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, went out with the sons and the wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he camped at God’s mountain.
18:6It was reported to Moses, “Behold, your father-in-law Jethro is coming to you, with your wife and your two sons with him.”
18:7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed before him, and kissed him. They greeted one another, and he brought him into the tent.
Reverence and Confession
18:8Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship they had met on the journey, and how the Lord had delivered them from Pharaoh’s hand and the Egyptians’ hand.
18:9Jethro was amazed at all the good the Lord had done for them in delivering them from the Egyptians’ hand and Pharaoh’s hand.
18:10Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, for He delivered His people from the Egyptians’ hand and Pharaoh’s hand.
18:11“Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because of this, because they attacked them.”
18:12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took burnt offerings and sacrifices for God. Aaron and all Israel’s elders came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
Jethro’s Advice
18:13After the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and all the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.
18:14When Jethro saw all he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”
18:15Moses said to his father-in-law, “The people come to me to seek judgment from God.
18:16“When they have a dispute and come to me, I judge each case and instruct them in God’s ordinances and His law.”
18:17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “You are not doing this correctly.
18:18“You and all the people with you will be worn down with unbearable exhaustion. This matter is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.
18:19“Now listen to me. I will advise you, and God will be with you. Represent the people in matters concerning God and bring their words to God.
18:20“Solemnly instruct them in God’s ordinances and His law, and show them the ways they must walk and the works they must do.
18:21“Select capable, God-fearing men from all the people, righteous men who hate arrogance. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
18:22“They shall judge the people at all times. They shall bring the weighty matter to you, but judge the smaller cases themselves. They will lighten your burden and help you carry it.
18:23“If you do this, God will strengthen you, and you will be able to stand, and all this people will go to their own place in peace.”
Leaders and Judges
18:24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he said.
18:25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them over the people as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
18:26They judged the people at all times. They brought every weighty matter to Moses, but judged every light matter themselves.
18:27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.