Exodus 18: Jethro visits Moses
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What happens?
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brings Moses' wife and two sons to him in the wilderness. Moses tells him all that Yahweh has done, and Jethro rejoices and offers sacrifices to God. When Jethro sees Moses judging the people alone from morning until evening, he advises him to choose capable men as officials, and Moses does so.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God does not speak in this chapter. Jethro speaks in verses 6, 10, 11, 14 and 17 to 23, and Moses speaks in verses 3, 4, 15 and 16. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
In plain English: Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt.
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2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away,
In plain English: Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took (or: received) Zipporah, Moses' wife, after she had been sent away (literally: after her sending away),
The Hebrew word: "Sent her away" is shilluchim, a word used only in the plural. The dictionary gives it as "a dismissal, i.e. (of a wife) divorce (especially the document); also (of a daughter) dower".
Good to know: The word is in only 3 verses of the Bible. The other two, and , say "wedding gift" and "parting gift". The text does not say when or why Zipporah went back to Jethro. says Moses took his wife and his sons with him when he returned to Egypt.
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3and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”.
In plain English: and her two sons. The name of one was Gershom, because Moses had said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land."
Good to know: gives the same reason for the name Gershom, which sounds like ger, the Hebrew word for a foreigner.
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4The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
In plain English: The name of the other was Eliezer, because he said, "My father's God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."
The Hebrew word: "Eliezer" sounds like the Hebrew words for "my God" (eli) and "help" (ezer). The verse gives the reason: "My father's God was my help." The word for "help" in the verse is ezer, which the dictionary gives as "aid".
Good to know: This is the only verse in Exodus that names Eliezer.
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5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.
In plain English: Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with Moses' sons and wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God.
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6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.”
In plain English: He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come (or: am coming) to you with your wife and her two sons."
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7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.
In plain English: Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked each other how they were (literally: of welfare), and they went into the tent.
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8Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them.
In plain English: Moses told his father-in-law everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them along the way, and how Yahweh had delivered them.
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9Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
In plain English: Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.
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10Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
In plain English: Jethro said, "Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
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11Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”
In plain English: Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods, because of the way they treated people arrogantly."
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12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
In plain English: Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
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13On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.
In plain English: The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.
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14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”
In plain English: When Moses' father-in-law saw all that 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 around you from morning until evening?"
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15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
In plain English: Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to ask God for guidance (literally: to inquire of God).
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16When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”
In plain English: When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one person and another, and I make them know God's statutes and his laws."
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17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good.
In plain English: Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.
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18You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.
In plain English: You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you, because the work is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.
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19Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.
In plain English: Now listen to my voice. I will give you advice, and God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and bring their matters to God.
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20You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
In plain English: Teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way they are to walk and the work they are to do.
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21Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
In plain English: Also choose (literally: look out) from all the people capable men who fear God: men of truth who hate unjust gain. Place them over the people as officials of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
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22Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.
In plain English: They are to judge the people at all times. Every great matter they will bring to you, but every small matter they will judge themselves. That will make it easier for you, and they will share the load with you.
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23If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace.”
In plain English: If you do this, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will also go to their place in peace."
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24So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
In plain English: Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did everything he had said.
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25Moses 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.
In plain English: Moses chose capable men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people: officials of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
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26They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
In plain English: They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
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27Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.
In plain English: Then Moses let his father-in-law go, and he went to his own land.
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