Exodus 18:7-12

Listen to Exodus 18:7-12
7 Moses 1went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and 2kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent.
8 Then Moses told his father-in-law 3all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.
9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, 4“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that 5the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they 6dealt arrogantly with the people. ” [a]
12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law 7before God.

Exodus 18:7-12 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.

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Cross References 7

  • 1. 18:7 Gen. 14:17; 18:2; 19:1; 1 Kgs. 2:19
  • 2. 18:7 [Gen. 29:13; 33:4]; 2 Sam. 19:39
  • 3. 18:8 See Neh. 9:9-15; Ps. 78:12-28, 42-53; 106:7-12
  • 4. 18:10 Gen. 14:20; 2 Sam. 18:28; Luke 1:68
  • 5. 18:11 1 Chr. 16:25; 2 Chr. 2:5; Ps. 95:3; 97:9; 135:5
  • 6. 18:11 Neh. 9:10; [Ps. 119:21; Dan. 4:37; Luke 1:51]
  • 7. 18:12 Deut. 12:7; 14:26; 1 Chr. 29:22; [ch. 24:11; Gen. 31:54]

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 18:11 Hebrew 'with them'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025