Exodus 18:22-27

22 And ¹let them judge the people at all times. ²Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will ³bear the burden with you.

23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be ⁴able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

25 ⁵Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

26 And ⁶they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and ⁷he went away to his own country.

Exodus 18:22-27 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.

Cross References

• 1. ver. 26
• 2. Leviticus 24:11; Numbers 15:33; Numbers 27:2; Numbers 36:1; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 17:8
• 3. Numbers 11:17
• 4. ver. 18
• 5. Deuteronomy 1:15
• 6. ver. 22
• 7. [Numbers 10:29, 30]