1 Jethro|strong="H3503", Moses’|strong="H4872" father-in-law|strong="H2859", was|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3588" priest|strong="H3548" in|strong="H0430" Midian|strong="H4080". He|strong="H0834" heard|strong="H8085" about|strong="H8085" the|strong="H3605" many ways that|strong="H0834" God|strong="H0430" helped Moses|strong="H4872" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478". He|strong="H0834" heard|strong="H8085" about|strong="H8085" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" leading the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" out|strong="H3318" of|strong="H0430" Egypt|strong="H4714".
2 So|strong="H3947" Jethro|strong="H3503" went to|strong="H0802" Moses|strong="H4872" while Moses|strong="H4872" was|strong="H0802" camped near the|strong="H0853" mountain of|strong="H0802" God. Jethro|strong="H3503" brought|strong="H3947" Moses’|strong="H4872" wife|strong="H0802", Zipporah|strong="H6855", with|strong="H0802" him|strong="H0853". (Zipporah|strong="H6855" was|strong="H0802" not with|strong="H0802" Moses|strong="H4872", because|strong="H0310" Moses|strong="H4872" had|strong="H4872" sent|strong="H3947" her|strong="H3947" home.)
3 Jethro also|strong="H0853" brought|strong="H1961" Moses’ two|strong="H8147" sons|strong="H1121" with|strong="H0776" him|strong="H0853". The|strong="H0853" first|strong="H0259" son|strong="H1121" was|strong="H8034" named|strong="H8034" Gershom|strong="H1647", because|strong="H3588" when|strong="H3588" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H8034" born|strong="H1121", Moses|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0834" am|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" stranger|strong="H1616" in|strong="H0776" a|strong="H1961" foreign|strong="H5237" country|strong="H0776".”
4 The|strong="H3588" other|strong="H0259" son was|strong="H8034" named|strong="H8034" Eliezer|strong="H0461", because|strong="H3588" when|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" was|strong="H8034" born, Moses|strong="H8034" said, “The|strong="H3588" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" my|strong="H3588" father|strong="H0001" helped me|strong="H5337" and|strong="H0430" saved|strong="H5337" me|strong="H5337" from|strong="H5337" the|strong="H3588" king of|strong="H0430" Egypt.”
5 So|strong="H0834" Jethro|strong="H3503" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Moses|strong="H4872" while|strong="H1931" Moses|strong="H4872" was|strong="H0834" camped|strong="H2583" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0834" desert|strong="H4057" near|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0834" mountain|strong="H2022" of|strong="H1121" God|strong="H0430". Moses’|strong="H4872" wife|strong="H0802" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H0834" two sons|strong="H1121" were|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0413" Jethro|strong="H3503".
6 Jethro|strong="H3503" sent|strong="H0559" a|strong="H0935" message to|strong="H0413" Moses|strong="H4872" that|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559", “This|strong="H0935" is|strong="H1121" your|strong="H0935" father-in-law|strong="H2859" Jethro|strong="H3503". I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" bringing|strong="H0935" your|strong="H0935" wife|strong="H0802" and|strong="H1121" her|strong="H0413" two|strong="H8147" sons|strong="H1121" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H5973".”
7 So|strong="H3318" Moses|strong="H4872" went|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0935" meet|strong="H7125" his|strong="H0376" father-in-law|strong="H2859". Moses|strong="H4872" bowed|strong="H7812" down|strong="H7812" before him|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" kissed|strong="H5401" him|strong="H0935". The|strong="H0935" two men|strong="H0376" asked|strong="H7592" about|strong="H0935" each|strong="H0376" other’s health|strong="H7965". Then|strong="H3318" they|strong="H0376" went|strong="H3318" into|strong="H0935" Moses’|strong="H4872" tent|strong="H0168" to|strong="H0935" talk more.
8 Moses|strong="H4872" told|strong="H5608" Jethro everything|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" done|strong="H6213" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478". He|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5608" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H3068" did|strong="H6213" to|strong="H5921" Pharaoh|strong="H6547" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H3068" Egypt|strong="H4714". He|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5608" about|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" problems they|strong="H0834" had|strong="H3068" along|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" way|strong="H1870". And|strong="H3068" he|strong="H0834" told|strong="H5608" his|strong="H3605" father-in-law|strong="H2859" how|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" saved|strong="H5337" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" every|strong="H3605" time|strong="H3478" there|strong="H4672" was|strong="H0834" trouble.
9 Jethro|strong="H3503" was|strong="H0834" happy|strong="H2896" when|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" heard all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" good|strong="H2896" things|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" done|strong="H6213" for|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" glad that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" freed the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Egyptians|strong="H4714".
10 He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559",
11 Now|strong="H6258" I|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" is|strong="H0834" greater|strong="H1419" than|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" gods|strong="H0430".
12 Jethro|strong="H3503" got|strong="H3947" some|strong="H3605" sacrifices|strong="H2077" and|strong="H0935" offerings|strong="H3478" to|strong="H0935" honor God|strong="H0430". Then|strong="H3947" Aaron|strong="H0175" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H0430" Israel|strong="H3478" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" eat|strong="H0398" with|strong="H5973" Moses’|strong="H4872" father-in-law|strong="H2859" Jethro|strong="H3503". They|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" ate|strong="H0398" together|strong="H5973" there|strong="H3605" with|strong="H5973" God|strong="H0430".
13 The|strong="H0853" next|strong="H4283" day|strong="H4283", Moses|strong="H4872" had|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" special job of|strong="H3427" judging|strong="H8199" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971". There|strong="H1961" were|strong="H1961" so|strong="H4480" many people|strong="H5971" that|strong="H4480" they|strong="H5921" had|strong="H1961" to|strong="H5704" stand|strong="H5975" before|strong="H5704" him|strong="H5921" all|strong="H5704" day|strong="H4283".
14 Jethro saw|strong="H7200" Moses|strong="H4872" judging the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". He|strong="H0834" asked|strong="H0559", “Why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" doing|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088"? Why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" the|strong="H3605" only|strong="H0905" judge|strong="H6213"? And|strong="H4872" why|strong="H4100" do|strong="H6213" people|strong="H5971" come to|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0859" all|strong="H3605" day|strong="H1242"?”
15 Then|strong="H0935" Moses|strong="H4872" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H0935" father-in-law|strong="H2859", “The|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0935" ask|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" ask|strong="H0559" for|strong="H3588" God’s|strong="H0430" decision for|strong="H3588" their|strong="H3588" problem.
16 If|strong="H3588" people|strong="H0376" have|strong="H1961" an|strong="H1961" argument, they|strong="H3588" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413", and|strong="H0935" I|strong="H3588" decide|strong="H8199" which|strong="H1697" person|strong="H0376" is|strong="H0430" right. In|strong="H0935" this|strong="H3588" way|strong="H1697" I|strong="H3588" teach|strong="H3045" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0376" God’s|strong="H0430" laws|strong="H8451" and|strong="H0935" teachings|strong="H8451".”
17 But|strong="H3808" Moses’|strong="H4872" father-in-law|strong="H2859" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “This|strong="H1697" isn’t|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0559" right|strong="H2896" way|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213" this|strong="H1697".
18 It|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0834" too|strong="H4480" much|strong="H1697" work|strong="H1697" for|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" to|strong="H3201" do|strong="H6213" alone|strong="H0905". You|strong="H0859" cannot|strong="H3808" do|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088" job|strong="H3808" by|strong="H1571" yourself|strong="H0859". It|strong="H3588" wears you|strong="H0859" out|strong="H4480". And|strong="H1697" it|strong="H3588" makes|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0834" people|strong="H5971" tired too|strong="H4480".
19 Now|strong="H6258", listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". Let|strong="H6258" me|strong="H0413" give|strong="H3289" you|strong="H0859" some|strong="H5971" advice|strong="H1697". And|strong="H0935" I|strong="H1697" pray God|strong="H0430" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H1961" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H0859". You|strong="H0859" should|strong="H0413" continue|strong="H1961" listening|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" problems of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971". And|strong="H0935" you|strong="H0859" should|strong="H0413" continue|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" speak|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" God|strong="H0430" about|strong="H1961" these|strong="H5971" things|strong="H1697".
20 You|strong="H0834" should|strong="H6213" explain|strong="H3045" God’s laws|strong="H8451" and|strong="H1870" teachings|strong="H8451" to|strong="H1870" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0834". Warn|strong="H2094" them|strong="H0853" not|strong="H1870" to|strong="H1870" break the|strong="H0853" laws|strong="H8451". Tell|strong="H3045" them|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" right way|strong="H1870" to|strong="H1870" live|strong="H8451" and|strong="H1870" what|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" should|strong="H6213" do|strong="H6213".
21 But|strong="H0859" you|strong="H0859" should|strong="H0376" also|strong="H0430" choose|strong="H2372" some|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H5921" be|strong="H0376" judges|strong="H0430" and|strong="H3967" leaders|strong="H8269".
22 Let|strong="H1961" these|strong="H1992" rulers|strong="H8199" judge|strong="H8199" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". If|strong="H7043" there|strong="H1961" is|strong="H1697" a|strong="H1961" very|strong="H1419" important|strong="H1419" case|strong="H1697", then|strong="H1961" they|strong="H1992" can|strong="H0935" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3605" and|strong="H0935" let|strong="H1961" you|strong="H3605" decide|strong="H8199" what|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H3605". But|strong="H1961" they|strong="H1992" can|strong="H0935" decide|strong="H8199" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" cases|strong="H1697" themselves|strong="H1992". In|strong="H5921" this|strong="H1697" way|strong="H1697" these|strong="H1992" men|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1961" share your|strong="H3605" work|strong="H1697" with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H3605", and|strong="H0935" it|strong="H5921" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" easier|strong="H7043" for|strong="H5921" you|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0413" lead|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971".
23 If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" do|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088" as|strong="H1697" God|strong="H0430" directs you|strong="H0518", then|strong="H2088" you|strong="H0518" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H1571" able|strong="H3201" to|strong="H0935" do|strong="H6213" your|strong="H3605" job without tiring yourself|strong="H5921" out|strong="H5921". And|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" can|strong="H3201" still|strong="H5975" have|strong="H1571" all|strong="H3605" their|strong="H3605" problems solved before|strong="H5921" they|strong="H0518" return|strong="H0935" home|strong="H4725".”
24 So|strong="H6213" Moses|strong="H4872" did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" Jethro told|strong="H0559" him|strong="H6963".
25 Moses|strong="H4872" chose|strong="H0977" good men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H5921" among|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478". He|strong="H5414" made|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" leaders|strong="H7218" over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". There|strong="H3605" were|strong="H3478" rulers|strong="H8269" over|strong="H5921" 1000 people|strong="H5971", 100 people|strong="H5971", 50 people|strong="H5971", and|strong="H3478" ten|strong="H6235" people|strong="H5971".
26 These|strong="H1992" rulers|strong="H8199" were|strong="H1992" judges|strong="H8199" for|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". The|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" could|strong="H1697" always|strong="H6256" bring|strong="H0935" their|strong="H3605" arguments to|strong="H0413" these|strong="H1992" rulers|strong="H8199", and|strong="H0935" Moses|strong="H4872" had|strong="H4872" to|strong="H0413" decide|strong="H8199" only|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" most important cases|strong="H1697".
27 After|strong="H0413" a|strong="H7971" short time Moses|strong="H4872" said|strong="H0413" goodbye to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7971" father-in-law|strong="H2859" Jethro, and|strong="H4872" Jethro went|strong="H0413" back|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7971" own home|strong="H0776".