Exodus 18

1 Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro [a spiritual leader], the priest of Midian, heard about all [everything, every detail] that God [Elohim, the supreme God] had done for Moses and His people Israel [the descendants of Jacob, His chosen nation], and how the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] had brought Israel out of Egypt [a place of bondage, the land of the Nile]. word study 2 After Moses [the Israelite leader] had sent back [away, divorced] his wife Zipporah [bird, daughter of Jethro], his father-in-law [relative by marriage] Jethro [priest in Midian] had received [taken, welcomed] her [as a parting gift, after her divorce], word study 3 along with her two [a pair of, dual] sons. One son was named Gershom [a sojourner, foreigner], for Moses had said, “I have been a [temporary resident, alien] foreigner [in a strange land, unfamiliar territory] in a foreign [unfamiliar, strange] land [country, territory].” word study 4 The other son was named Eliezer [God is help, divine assistance], for Moses had said, “The God [Elohim, the supreme Being] of my father [Abraham, his ancestor] was my helper [one who provides aid] and delivered me from the sword [cutting instrument] of Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, a powerful leader].” word study 5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro [the priest of Midian], along with Moses’ wife [his marriage partner] and sons [his male descendants], came to him in the desert [the wilderness, a vast empty space], where he was encamped [pitching his tent, residing temporarily] at the mountain [a high elevation, a place of spiritual encounter] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 6 He sent word [as a messenger] to Moses, “I, your father-in-law [relative by marriage] Jethro, am coming [approaching, on my way] to you with your wife [woman, partner] and her two [a pair, dual] sons [male children, descendants].” word study 7 So Moses [the Israelite leader] went out to meet his father-in-law [relative by marriage] and bowed down [in respect, to show honor] and kissed him [as a greeting, a sign of affection]. They greeted [asked about each other’s welfare, inquired about well-being] each other and went into the tent [the tabernacle, a place of dwelling]. word study 8 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] recounted to his father-in-law [relative by marriage] all that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had done to Pharaoh [the king of Egypt] and the Egyptians [the people of Egypt] for Israel’s [the descendants of Jacob] sake, all the hardships [travail, distress, or weariness] they had encountered [found, experienced] along the way [the road, journey, or path], and how the LORD [the supreme Deliverer] had delivered [rescued, snatched away] them. word study 9 And Jethro [rejoiced greatly, was glad] rejoiced over all the good things [pleasant, beneficial, welfare] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had done [made, accomplished] for Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants], whom He had rescued [delivered, snatched away] from the hand [power, direction] of the Egyptians [the people of Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa]. word study 10 Jethro declared, “Blessed [praised, worshiped] be the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who has delivered [rescued, saved] you from the hand [power, control] of the Egyptians [the people of Egypt] and of Pharaoh [the king of Egypt], and who has delivered [freed, liberated] the people [a nation, a group of individuals] from the hand [power, authority] of the Egyptians [the Egyptian nation]. word study 11 Now [at this time, in this moment] I know [have come to understand, perceive] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is greater [more powerful, supreme] than all [every, everything] other gods [divine beings, deities], for [because, since] He did this [rescued, saved] when they treated [dealt with, acted towards] Israel [the chosen people] with arrogance [pride, haughtiness, having an inflated sense of self-importance] [or proudly, with an attitude of superiority].” word study 12 Then Moses’ father-in-law [relative by marriage] Jethro brought a burnt offering [a sacrifice completely consumed by fire] and sacrifices [acts of worship, atonement] to God [Elohim, the one supreme God], and Aaron came with all [every single one] the elders [respected leaders, wise men] of Israel to eat bread [share a meal, fellowship] with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence [face, before] of God. word study 13 The next day [on the morrow, following] Moses took his seat [to dwell, to sit in judgment] to judge [to govern, to vindicate] the people [a nation, the Israelites], and they stood [in a strong sense, firmly] around him from morning [the break of day, dawn] until evening [sunset, the end of the day]. word study 14 When his father-in-law [relative by marriage, connected through wedding vows] saw all [everything, the entirety] that Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] was doing [to make, to accomplish] for the people [a nation, a community], he asked, “What [how, in what manner] is this [thing, matter, affair] that you are doing [to make, to accomplish] for the people [a nation, a community]? Why [for what reason, on what account] do you sit [to dwell, to remain] alone [by yourself, apart] as judge [one who presides, decides], with all [every, the whole] the people standing [stationed, waiting] around you from morning [the break of day, dawn] till [until, as far as] evening [sunset, the close of day]?” word study 15 “Because the people [a nation, a multitude] come to me to inquire [seek, ask, enquire] of God [Elohim, the supreme One],” Moses [the Israelite leader] replied. word study 16 “Whenever they have a dispute [a matter or question], it is brought to me to judge [to govern or vindicate] between one man [a male person or individual] and another, and I make known [declare or explain] to them the statutes [decrees or laws] and laws of God [the supreme Elohim].” word study 17 But Moses’ father-in-law [relative by marriage, connected through wedding vows] said to him, “What you are doing [the thing that thou doest, the affair in which you are engaged] is not [lacking, absent] good [pleasant, beneficial, welfare, as in a good deed]. word study 18 Surely you [as a collective group] and these people with you will wear yourselves out [become exhausted, spent with foolish labour], because the task [thing, work, affair] is too [exceedingly] heavy [severe, burdensome] for you [from your own strength, alone]. You cannot [are not able, have no power] handle it [perform it, do it] alone [by yourself, without help]. word study 19 Now [at this time, currently] listen to me; I will give you some advice [counsel, guidance], and may God [Elohim, the one supreme God] be with [together, in accompaniment] you. You must be the people’s [a nation, a community] representative [one who stands in behalf of others] before [in the presence of, opposite] God and bring [to present, to introduce] their causes [matters, disputes, things] to Him. word study 20 Teach them the statutes [decrees, divine laws] and laws [instructions, guiding principles], and show them the way [path, manner of life] to live [walk, conduct their lives] and the work [deeds, actions] they must do [perform, accomplish]. word study 21 Furthermore, select capable [competent, able] men from among the people [God-fearing, reverent]—God-fearing [trustworthy, faithful], trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest [unjust] gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders [rulers] of thousands, of hundreds, of [fifty, a group of fifty] fifties, and of [ten, a small group of ten] tens. word study 22 Have these men [to govern, lead] judge [to vindicate, punish] the people [a nation, community] at all times [every occasion, season]. Then they can bring you any major [great, important] issue, but all minor [small, insignificant] cases they can judge [decide, rule] on their own, so that your load [burden, responsibility] may be lightened [made easier, relieved] as they share [bear, lift] it with you. word study 23 If [under these conditions, in this circumstance] you follow this advice [counsel, guidance] and God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] so directs [commands, gives orders to] you, then you will be able [have the power, strength] to endure [stand firm, persevere], and all [every single one] these people can go [return, depart] home [to their place, tents] in peace [shalom, completeness, wellness].” word study 24 Moses [the Israelite leader] listened [to hear and obey, hearkened to the voice] to his father-in-law [relative by marriage, Jethro] and did [to make, carry out] everything [all, the whole] he said [to speak, commanded]. word study 25 So Moses [the Israelite leader, chosen by God] chose capable [able, strong, and wise] men from all [every part of] Israel and made them heads [chiefs, rulers] over the people as leaders [rulers, captains] of thousands [large groups], of hundreds [companies], of fifties [smaller units], and of tens [the smallest groups]. word study 26 And they judged [acted as rulers, governed] the people [a nation, Israel] at all [every] times [seasons, occasions]; they would bring [present, refer] the difficult [hard, severe] cases to Moses [the leader, prophet], but any [every] minor [small, insignificant] issue [matter, affair] they would judge [decide, vindicate] themselves. word study 27 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] sent his father-in-law [relative by marriage] on his way, and Jethro returned [to walk, to go] to his own land [country, territory, region]. word study