Exodus 18:17

17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you're doing is not good.

Exodus 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 18:17

And Moses's father in law said unto him
Having observed what he did, and heard his answer to the question he put to him:

the thing that thou doest is not good;
not meaning that it was not morally good, or that it was morally evil; for it was certainly a good thing to inquire of the mind and will of God for the people, and to hear and decide matters in controversy between them, and do justice to both parties; but it was not good for the health of Moses; it was not commodious and convenient for him; it was not for his bodily welfare; it was too much for him, as he explains himself in the next verse.

Exodus 18:17 In-Context

15 Moses answered his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to find out God's will.

16 Whenever they have a disagreement and bring it to me, I decide which person is right, and I tell them God's laws and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you're doing is not good.

18 You and your people will wear yourselves out. This is too much work for you. You can't do it alone!

19 Now listen to me, and I'll give you some advice. May God be with you! You must be the people's representative to God and bring their disagreements to him.