Exodus 18:9-19

9 Yitro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Yisra'el, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Mitzrim.

10 Yitro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Mitzrim, and out of the hand of Par`oh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Mitzrim.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."

12 Yitro, Moshe' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aharon came with all of the Zakenim of Yisra'el, to eat bread with Moshe' father-in-law before God.

13 It happened on the next day, that Moshe sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moshe from the morning to the evening.

14 When Moshe' 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?"

15 Moshe said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 When 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."

17 Moshe' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.

18 You 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.

19 Listen 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.

Exodus 18:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 18

This chapter gives an account of Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, with Zipporah his daughter, the wife of Moses, and her two sons, meeting him in the wilderness, who was kindly received by him, Ex 18:1-7 and on Moses' relating the great things God had done for Israel, Jethro expressed his joy on that account, gave praise to God, offered sacrifice, and kept a feast with the elders of Israel, Ex 18:8-12, and observing the constant and fatiguing business Moses had on his hands from morning to evening in judging the people, Ex 18:13-18, he gave him advice to appoint persons under him to receive laws and ordinances from him, he should have from God, and, according to them, judge and govern the people under them, some being rulers of thousands, others of hundreds, others of fifties, and some of tens, Ex 18:19-23, which counsel was acceptable to Moses, and he took it, Ex 18:24-26 and the chapter is concluded with their friendly parting, Ex 18:27.