Exodus 18:6-16

6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.

8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.

10 He said, “Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”

12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.

14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.

16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

Exodus 18:6-16 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. S Genesis 17:3; S Genesis 43:28
• 2. S Genesis 29:13
• 3. Numbers 20:14; Nehemiah 9:32
• 4. Exodus 15:6,16; Psalms 81:7
• 5. Joshua 21:45; 1 Kings 8:66; Nehemiah 9:25; Psalms 145:7; Isaiah 63:7
• 6. S Genesis 9:26; S Genesis 24:27; Genesis 14:20; Psalms 68:19-20
• 7. S Exodus 12:12; Exodus 15:11; 2 Chronicles 2:5; S 1 Chronicles 16:25
• 8. S Exodus 1:10; S Luke 1:51
• 9. S Exodus 3:1
• 10. Exodus 10:25; Exodus 20:24; Leviticus 1:2-9
• 11. Genesis 31:54; Exodus 24:5
• 12. S Genesis 26:30
• 13. Deuteronomy 12:7
• 14. S ver 19; S Genesis 25:22; Numbers 9:6,8; Deuteronomy 17:8-13
• 15. Exodus 24:14
• 16. ver 15; Leviticus 24:12; Numbers 15:34; Deuteronomy 1:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Proverbs 24:23; Malachi 2:9