Exodus 18 - Introduction

1 Iethro bringeth to Moses his wife and two sonnes.

7 Moses entertaineth him.

13 Iethros counsell is accepted.

27 Iethro departeth.

1 When [Note: Exodus 2:16.] Iethro 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 Iethro Moses father in law tooke Zipporah Moses wife, after he had sent her backe,

3 And her two sonnes, of which the [Note: Exodus 2:22.] name of the one was [Note: That is, A stranger there.] Gershom: for he said, I haue bene an alien in a strange land.

4 And the name of the other was [Note: That is, my God is an helpe.] Eliezer: for the God of my father, said he, was mine helpe, and deliuered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

5 And Iethro Moses father in law came with his sonnes and his wife vnto Moses into the wildernes, where he encamped at the mount of God.

6 And he said vnto Moses, I thy father in law Iethro am come vnto thee, and thy wife, and her two sonnes with her.

7 And Moses went out to meete his father in law, and did obeysance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their [Note: Hebrew: peace.] welfare, and they came into the tent.

8 And Moses told his father in law, all that the Lord had done vnto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians for Israels sake, and all the trauaile that had

[Iethros counsell to Moses, obeyed.]

[Note: Hebrew: found them.] come vpon them by the way, and how the Lord deliuered them.

9 And Iethro reioyced for all the goodnesse which the Lord had doue to Israel: whom he had deliuered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 And Iethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath deliuered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath deliuered the people from vnder the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater then all gods: [Note: Exodus 1:10; Exodus 1:16; Exodus 1:22; Exodus 5:7; Exodus 14:18.] for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, hee was aboue them.

12 And Iethro, Moses father in law, tooke 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.

13 And it came to passe on the morrow, that Moses sate to iudge the people: and the people stood by Moses, from the morning vnto the euening.

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 thy selfe alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning vnto euen?

15 And Moses said vnto his father in law, Because the people come vnto me to enquire of God.

16 When they haue a matter, they come vnto mee, and I iudge betweene [Note: Hebrew: a man and his fellow.] one and another, and I doe make them know the statutes of God and his Lawes.

17 And Moses father in law saide vnto him, The thing that thou doest, is not good.

18 [Note: Hebrew: Fading thou wilt fade.] Thou wilt surely weare away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heauy for thee; [Note: Deuteronomy 1:9.] thou art not able to performe it thy selfe alone.

19 Hearken now vnto my voyce, I will giue thee counsell, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes vnto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and lawes, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walke, and the worke that they must doe.

21 Moreouer thou shalt prouide out of all the people able men, such as feare God, men of trueth, hating couetousnesse,

[Iethros counsell to Moses, obeyed.]

and place such ouer them, to bee rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.

22 And let them iudge the people at all seasons: and it shall bee that euery great matter they shall bring vnto thee, but euery small matter they shal iudge: so shall it be easier for thy selfe, and they shall beare the burden with thee.

23 If thou shalt doe this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt bee able to endure, and all this people shall also goe to their place in peace.

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 ouer the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.

26 And they iudged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought vnto Moses, but euery small matter they iudged themselues.

27 And Moses let his father in law depart, and he went his way into his owne land.