1WHEN Jethro, 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 Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
5 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.
12 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took 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 pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
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?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
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.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go 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 over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

When 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:

2Then Iethro Moses father in law tooke Zipporah Moses wife, after he had sent her backe,

3And her two sonnes, of which the name of the one was Gershom: for he said, I haue bene an alien in a strange land.

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

5And 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.

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

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

8And 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 come vpon them by the way, and how the Lord deliuered them.

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

10And 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.

11Now I know that the Lord is greater then all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, hee was aboue them.

12And 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.

13And 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.

14And 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?

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

16When they haue a matter, they come vnto mee, and I iudge betweene one and another, and I doe make them know the statutes of God and his Lawes.

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

18Thou wilt surely weare away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heauy for thee; thou art not able to performe it thy selfe alone.

19Hearken 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:

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

21Moreouer thou shalt prouide out of all the people able men, such as feare God, men of trueth, hating couetousnesse, and place such ouer them, to bee rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.

22And 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.

23If 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.

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

25And 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.

26And 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.

I == Ex 15:21 ; Judg 5:1 ; 2nd Sam 22:1 ; Ps 106:12

II == Deut 10:21 ; Isa 12:2 ; 25:1 Ps 106:12

III == Ex 6:3 ; Ps 24:8 ; 83:18 Rev 19:11

VI == Ps 118:15-16

VII == Deut 33:26 ; Ps 59:13 ; Isa 5:24 ; 47:14

VIII == Ex 14:21 ; 2nd Sam 22:16 ; Job 4:9 ; Ps 78:13 ; Hab 3:10 ; 2nd Thess 2:8

IX == Gen 49:27 ; Judg 5:30 ; Isa 53:12 ; Luke 11:22

X == Ex 14:21 , 28 ; 15:5 ; Ps 147:18

XI == 2nd Sam 7:22 ; 1st Kings 8:23 ; Ps 71:19 ; 77:14 ; 86:8 ; 89:6 , 8 ; Isa 6:3 ; Jer 10:6 ; 49:19

XII == Ex 15:6

XIV == Num 14:14 ; Deut 2:25 ; Josh 2:9-10 ; Ps 48:6

XVI == 2nd Sam 7:23 ; Ps 74:2 ; 1st Peter 2:9

XIX ==

1 Now Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel: how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 So his father-in-law Jethro took along Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him,

3 and her two sons. One of these was called Gershom; for he said, "I am a stranger in a foreign land."

4 The other was called Eliezer; for he said, "My father's God is my helper; he has rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."

5 Together with Moses' wife and sons, then, his father-in-law Jethro came to him in the desert where he was encamped near the mountain of God,

6 and he sent word to Moses, "I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons."

7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down before him, and kissed him. Having greeted each other, they went into the tent.

8 Moses then told his father-in-law of all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for the sake of Israel, and of all the hardships they had had to endure on their journey, and how the LORD had come to their rescue.

9 Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness that the LORD had shown Israel in rescuing them from the hands of the Egyptians.

10 "Blessed be the LORD," he said, "who has rescued his people from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD is a deity great beyond any other; for he took occasion of their being dealt with insolently to deliver the people from the power of the Egyptians."

12 Then Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, brought a holocaust and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to participate with Moses' father-in-law in the meal before God.

13 The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people, who waited about him from morning until evening.

14 When his father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he inquired, "What sort of thing is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone while all the people have to stand about you from morning till evening?"

15 Moses answered his father-in-law, "The people come to me to consult God.

16 Whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me to have me settle the matter between them and make known to them God's decisions and regulations."

17 "You are not acting wisely," his father-in-law replied.

18 "You will surely wear yourself out, and not only yourself but also these people with you. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

19 Now, listen to me, and I will give you some advice, that God may be with you. Act as the people's representative before God, bringing to him whatever they have to say.

20 Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how they are to live and what they are to do.

21 But you should also look among all the people for able and God-fearing men, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and set them as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22 Let these men render decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. More important cases they should refer to you, but all the lesser cases they can settle themselves. Thus, your burden will be lightened, since they will bear it with you.

23 If you do this, when God gives you orders you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

24 Moses followed the advice of his father-in-law and did all that he had suggested.

25 He picked out able men from all Israel and put them in charge of the people as officers over groups of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

26 They rendered decisions for the people in all ordinary cases. The more difficult cases they referred to Moses, but all the lesser cases they settled themselves.

27 Then Moses bade farewell to his father-in-law, who went off to his own country.

v 1. Jethro was called Reuel in 2:18. The fact that he was a priest in Midian does not make him an idolatrous priest. There were some Gentile believers, and after his contacts with Moses earlier, he may have well been a priest of God.

v 2-6. News of the miracles of the exodus had no doubt spread over surrounding nations, thus accounting for the attack from the Amalekites. Jethro sent word ahead that he was bringing Moses’ wife and sons to him. Moses had sent her back to her father in 4:2, before going to Egypt. This is a year (?) later, at Horeb, or Mount Sinai.

v 7. Moses showed all respect in Oriental culture by going to meet Jethro, bowing, kissing him and welcoming him into his tent, even above desire to be with his family.

v 8-12. When asked of his welfare, Moses was able to give a spectacular account of all that had happened up to and during the exodus. Jethro was so impressed he praised the Lord and acknowledged that He was greater than all other gods. He may have known that before, but now he knows it in a greater, personal way. Jethro offered sacrifices to God, officiating over the warm fellowship with Aaron and the elders.

13-16. Jethro was quick to see that people standing in line all day to see Moses was hard on both him and them. Moses was doing two things, judging between them in civil matters, and using their disputes to instruct them in God’s laws.

v 17-19. It is right to do good, but over exerting ourselves to do it may not be good. There are times even in Christian service that we need to organize our priorities, and in some cases, “just say no”. Moses should be their representative before God.

v 20. His part would be to teach the law and show them what to do.

v 21. Moses should appoint qualified men.
Qualifications were to fear God, be men of truth, and hate covetousness.
Duties are to be rulers of varying size groups as in the military.

v 22,23. They would hear most cases in the various size groups, with Moses acting as supreme court. They would be judges, civil leaders, but appointees in Num. 11:16,17 are spiritual, executive leaders. Jethro’s suggestions are not over ruled by God, as some think, but both groups of men had their jobs to do. Jethro was careful to condition his recommendation with, “and if God command thee so”.

v 24-27. Moses recognized Jethro’s wisdom and made the appointments as he had suggested. It worked out well, with Moses only hearing the difficult cases. Moses apparently had requested Jethro to remain till the reorganization was complete. In this it is unimportant whether or not Jethro was a true believer. We take good advice from unsaved garage mechanics, doctors, and experts in many other fields. Jethro, or his other name Reuel or Raguel, returned to his land, but from Num. 10:29-32, we can see that Moses’ brother in law, Hobab, either stayed or came to them.