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Chapter 18
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Verse 1

Now Jethro,{H3503} the priest{H3548} of Midian,{H4080} Moses'{H4872} father-in-law,{H2859} heard{H8085} of all that God{H430} had done{H6213} for Moses,{H4872} and for Israel{H3478} his people,{H5971} how that Jehovah{H3068} had brought{H3318} Israel{H3478} out of Egypt.{H4714}

Verse 2

And Jethro,{H3503} Moses'{H4872} father-in-law,{H2859} took{H3947} Zipporah,{H6855} Moses'{H4872} wife,{H802} after{H310} he had sent her away,{H7964}

Verse 3

and her two{H8147} sons;{H1121} of whom the name{H8034} of the one{H259} was Gershom;{H1647} for he said,{H559} I have been a sojourner{H1616} in a foreign{H5237} land:{H776}

Verse 4

and the name{H8034} of the other{H259} was Eliezer;{H461} for [he said], The God{H430} of my father{H1} was my help,{H5828} and delivered{H5337} me from the sword{H2719} of Pharaoh.{H6547}

Verse 5

And Jethro,{H3503} Moses'{H4872} father-in-law,{H2859} came{H935} with his sons{H1121} and his wife{H802} unto Moses{H4872} into the wilderness{H4057} where he was encamped,{H2583} at the mount{H2022} of God:{H430}

Verse 6

and he said{H559} unto Moses,{H4872} I, thy father-in-law{H2859} Jethro,{H3503} am come{H935} unto thee, and thy wife,{H802} and her two{H8147} sons{H1121} with her.

Verse 7

And Moses{H4872} went out{H3318} to meet{H7125} his father-in-law,{H2859} and did obeisance,{H7812} and kissed{H5401} him; and they asked{H7592} each{H376} other{H7453} of their welfare;{H7965} and they came{H935} into the tent.{H168}

Verse 8

And Moses{H4872} told{H5608} his father-in-law{H2859} all that Jehovah{H3068} had done{H6213} unto Pharaoh{H6547} and to the Egyptians{H4714} for Israel's{H3478} sake,{H182} all the travail{H8513} that had come{H4672} upon them by the way,{H1870} and how Jehovah{H3068} delivered{H5337} them.

Verse 9

And Jethro{H3503} rejoiced{H2302} for all the goodness{H2896} which Jehovah{H3068} had done{H6213} to Israel,{H3478} in that he had delivered{H5337} them out of the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians.{H4714}

Verse 10

And Jethro{H3503} said,{H559} Blessed{H1288} be Jehovah,{H3068} who hath delivered{H5337} you out of the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians,{H4714} and out of the hand{H3027} of Pharaoh;{H6547} who hath delivered{H5337} the people{H5971} from under the hand{H3027} of the Egyptians.{H4714}

Verse 11

Now I know{H3045} that Jehovah{H3068} is greater{H1419} than all gods;{H430} yea, in the thing{H1697} wherein they dealt proudly{H2102} against them.

Verse 12

And Jethro,{H3503} Moses'{H4872} father-in-law,{H2859} took{H3947} a burnt-offering{H5930} and sacrifices{H2077} for God:{H430} and Aaron{H175} came,{H935} and all the elders{H2205} of Israel,{H3478} to eat{H398} bread{H3899} with Moses'{H4872} father-in-law{H2859} before{H6440} God.{H430}

Verse 13

And it came to pass on the morrow,{H4283} that Moses{H4872} sat{H3427} to judge{H8199} the people:{H5971} and the people{H5971} stood{H5975} about Moses{H4872} from the morning{H1242} unto the evening.{H6153}

Verse 14

And when Moses'{H4872} father-in-law{H2859} saw{H7200} all that he did{H6213} to the people,{H5971} he said,{H559} What is this thing{H1697} that thou doest{H6213} to the people?{H5971} why sittest{H3427} thou thyself alone, and all the people{H5971} stand{H5324} about thee from morning{H1242} unto even?{H6153}

Verse 15

And Moses{H4872} said{H559} unto his father-in-law,{H2859} Because the people{H5971} come{H935} unto me to inquire{H1875} of God:{H430}

Verse 16

when they have a matter,{H1697} they come{H935} unto me; and I judge{H8199} between a man{H376} and his neighbor,{H7453} and I make them know{H3045} the statutes{H2706} of God,{H430} and his laws.{H8451}

Verse 17

And Moses'{H4872} father-in-law{H2859} said{H559} unto him, The thing{H1697} that thou doest{H6213} is not good.{H2896}

Verse 18

Thou wilt surely{H5034} wear away,{H5034} both thou, and this people{H5971} that is with thee: for the thing{H1697} is too heavy{H3515} for thee; thou art not able{H3201} to perform{H6213} it thyself alone.

Verse 19

Hearken{H8085} now unto my voice,{H6963} I will give thee counsel,{H3289} and God{H430} be{H1961} with thee: be thou for the people{H5971} to Godward,{H4136} and bring{H935} thou the causes{H1697} unto God:{H430}

Verse 20

and thou shalt teach{H2094} them the statutes{H2706} and the laws,{H8451} and shalt show{H3045} them the way{H1870} wherein they must walk,{H3212} and the work{H4639} that they must do.{H6213}

Verse 21

Moreover thou shalt provide{H2372} out of all the people{H5971} able{H2428} men,{H582} such as fear{H3373} God,{H430} men{H582} of truth,{H571} hating{H8130} unjust gain;{H1215} and place{H7760} such over them, to be rulers{H8269} of thousands,{H505} rulers{H8269} of hundreds,{H3967} rulers{H8269} of fifties,{H2572} and rulers{H8269} of tens:{H6235}

Verse 22

and let them judge{H8199} the people{H5971} at all seasons:{H6256} and it shall be, that every great{H1419} matter{H1697} they shall bring{H935} unto thee, but every small{H6996} matter{H1697} they shall judge{H8199} themselves: so shall it be easier{H7043} for thyself, and they shall bear{H5375} [the burden] with thee.

Verse 23

If thou shalt do{H6213} this thing,{H1697} and God{H430} command{H6680} thee so, then thou shalt be able{H3201} to endure,{H5975} and all this people{H5971} also shall go{H935} to their place{H4725} in peace.{H7965}

Verse 24

So Moses{H4872} hearkened{H8085} to the voice{H6963} of his father-in-law,{H2859} and did{H6213} all that he had said.{H559}

Verse 25

And Moses{H4872} chose{H977} able{H2428} men{H582} out of all Israel,{H3478} and made{H5414} them heads{H7218} over the people,{H5971} rulers{H8269} of thousands,{H505} rulers{H8269} of hundreds,{H3967} rulers{H8269} of fifties,{H2572} and rulers{H8269} of tens.{H6235}

Verse 26

And they judged{H8199} the people{H5971} at all seasons:{H6256} the hard{H7186} causes{H1697} they brought{H935} unto Moses,{H4872} but every small{H6996} matter{H1697} they judged{H8199} themselves.

Verse 27

And Moses{H4872} let his father-in-law{H2859} depart;{H7971} and he went{H3212} his way into his own land.{H776}

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Chapter 18
Next: exodus 19→