Exodus 18

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

2Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away.

3and her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land."

4The name of the other was Eliezer, for the God of my father was my help and rescued me from Pharaoh's sword.

5Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

6He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife and her two sons with her."

7Moses went forth to meet his father-in-law, prostrated himself, and kissed him. They asked one another how they fared, and entered the tent.

8Moses recounted to his father-in-law everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the way, and how Yahweh had rescued them.

9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel by rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.

10Jethro said, "Blessed be Yahweh, who rescued you from the Egyptians' power and from Pharaoh's power, who rescued the people from under the Egyptians' power."

11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because in the matter wherein they acted presumptuously against them.

12Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all Israel's elders to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this matter that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, while all the people stand before you from morning until evening?"

15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God."

16When they have a matter that comes to me, I judge between a man and his fellow, and I make known to them the statutes of God and his laws.

17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good."

18You will surely wear out, both you and these people with you; for this task is too heavy for you. You cannot perform it alone.

19Now listen to my voice. Let me advise you, and God be with you. Stand before God for the people, and bring the matters to God.

20You shall teach them the statutes and the instructions, and make known to them the way they shall walk in and the work that they shall do.

21You shall select from all the people capable men who fear God, truthful men who hate wrongful gain, and appoint them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

22Let them judge the people at all times, and every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will lighten your load, and they shall bear it with you.

23If you do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will also go to their place in peace.

24Moses listened to his father-in-law's voice and did everything he said.

25Moses selected capable men from all Israel and appointed them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26They judged the people at all times, bringing difficult matters to Moses but judging every minor matter themselves.

27Moses sent his father-in-law away, and he went to his own land.