Exodus 18:15

15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance.

Exodus 18:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 18:15

And Moses said unto his father in law
In answer to his question; and there were two things, as Aben Ezra observes, he did to the people, and for which they came to him; the one is observed in this verse, and the other in the next:

because the people come unto me to inquire of God;
of his mind and will in certain cases, and of his statutes and laws, as the following verse shows; what they should observe, and according to which they should conduct themselves: they came to inquire what God would have them to do; and, in doubtful cases, what was his will and pleasure, and to desire Moses to inform them; and if the things were of such a nature that he could not easily and readily do it, then to inquire of God for them, which in later times was done by Urim and Thummim.

Exodus 18:15 In-Context

13 The following day Moshe sat to settle disputes for the people, while the people stood around Moshe from morning till evening.

14 When Moshe's father-in-law saw all that he was doing to the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit there alone, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?"

15 Moshe answered his father-in-law, "It's because the people come to me seeking God's guidance.

16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me; I judge between one person and another, and I explain to them God's laws and teachings."

17 Moshe's father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good.