Exodus Chapter 18

The Visit of Jethro

1When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; 2Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, 3And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: 4And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

5And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: 6And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. 7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 8And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 12And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

Jethro Advises Moses

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: 16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Visit of Jethro

1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away, 3 and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land”. 4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “My father’s God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh’s sword.”

5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God. 6 He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her.” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them. 9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them.” 12 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13 It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God. 20 You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. 23 If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these 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 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

The Visit of Jethro

1 Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, a the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, 3 along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, b for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” 4 The other son was named Eliezer, c for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 He sent word to Moses, “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 went into the tent. 8 Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

9 And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered 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 when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

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

Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13 The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

15 “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. 16 “Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

17 But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 20 Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22 Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

23 If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.

Footnotes:

1 a Moses’ father-in-law Jethro  was also called Reuel ; see Exodus 2:18.
3 b Gershom  sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner .
4 c Eliezer  means God is my helper .

The Visit of Jethro

1And Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heareth all that God hath done for Moses, and for Israel his people, that Jehovah hath brought out Israel from Egypt, 2and Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh Zipporah, wife of Moses, besides her parents, 3and her two sons, of whom the name of the one is Gershom, for he said, 'a sojourner I have been in a strange land:' 4and the name of the other is Eliezer, for, 'the God of my father is for my help, and doth deliver me from the sword of Pharaoh.'

5And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, cometh, and his sons, and his wife, unto Moses, unto the wilderness where he is encamping -- the mount of God; 6and he saith unto Moses, 'I, thy father-in-law, Jethro, am coming unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.' 7And Moses goeth out to meet his father-in-law, and boweth himself, and kisseth him, and they ask one at another of welfare, and come into the tent; 8and Moses recounteth to his father-in-law all that Jehovah hath done to Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, on account of Israel, all the travail which hath found them in the way, and Jehovah doth deliver them. 9And Jethro rejoiceth for all the good which Jehovah hath done to Israel, whom He hath delivered from the hand of the Egyptians; 10and Jethro saith, 'Blessed is Jehovah, who hath delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of Pharaoh -- who hath delivered this people from under the hand of the Egyptians; 11now I have known that Jehovah is greater than all the gods, for in the thing they have acted proudly -- He is above them!' 12And Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, taketh a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron cometh in, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with the father-in-law of Moses, before God.

Jethro Advises Moses

13And it cometh to pass on the morrow, that Moses sitteth to judge the people, and the people stand before Moses, from the morning unto the evening; 14and the father-in-law of Moses seeth all that he is doing to the people, and saith, 'What is this thing which thou art doing to the people? wherefore art thou sitting by thyself, and all the people standing by thee from morning till evening?' 15And Moses saith to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come unto me to seek God; 16when they have a matter, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.'

17And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, 'The thing which thou art doing is not good; 18thou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which is with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself. 19'Now, hearken to my voice, I counsel thee, and God is with thee: be thou for the people over-against God, and thou hast brought in the things unto God; 20and thou hast warned them concerning the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they do. 21And thou -- thou dost provide out of all the people men of ability, fearing God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain, and hast placed these over them, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens, 22and they have judged the people at all times; and it hath come to pass, every great matter they bring in unto thee, and every small matter they judge themselves; and lighten it from off thyself, and they have borne with thee. 23If thou dost this thing, and God hath commanded thee, then thou hast been able to stand, and all this people also goeth in unto its place in peace.'

24And Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said, 25and Moses chooseth men of ability out of all Israel, and maketh them chiefs over the people, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens, 26and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves. 27And Moses sendeth his father-in-law away, and he goeth away unto his own land.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Exodus 18?

2Introduction to Exodus 18

3Context of Exodus 18

4Ancient Key Word Study

5Compare & Contrast

6Exodus 18 Unique Insights

7Exodus 18 Connections to Yeshua

8Exodus 18 Scriptural Echoes

9Exodus 18 Devotional

10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Exodus 18?

Introduction to Exodus 18

Exodus 18 stands as a pivotal chapter in Israel’s wilderness journey, marking a significant transition in their organizational structure and leadership model. This chapter introduces us to a profound lesson in godly leadership through the wisdom of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. The narrative showcases how even the great prophet Moses needed counsel and assistance in leading God’s people, demonstrating that effective spiritual leadership often requires both divine guidance and practical wisdom.

The chapter serves as a bridge between Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their arrival at Mount Sinai, providing crucial insights into the development of Israel’s judicial system and the importance of delegation in spiritual leadership. It reveals how God’s providence works through unexpected sources, even through a Midianite priest, to establish order and justice among His people.

Context of Exodus 18

Within the immediate context of Exodus, chapter 18 follows the miraculous provision of water from the rock and victory over the Amalekites in chapter 17. This positioning is significant as it demonstrates how God was systematically preparing His people for the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The chapter precedes the momentous events of chapter 19, where Israel arrives at Sinai and prepares to receive God’s covenant.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter represents a crucial development in Israel’s transformation from a band of freed slaves into an organized nation under God’s rule. The establishment of the judicial system described here becomes a foundation for future Israelite society and reflects principles that would later be seen in both synagogue and church governance structures.

The chapter also serves as a profound example of how God’s wisdom can come through unexpected channels, challenging any notion that divine truth is limited to one particular people group. This narrative demonstrates God’s sovereignty in using a Midianite priest to bring organizational wisdom to His chosen people, foreshadowing the future inclusion of Gentiles in God’s redemptive plan.

Ancient Key Word Study

Jethro (יִתְרוֹ): The name means “excellence” or “abundance.” As the priest of Midian, his role carries significant weight in the narrative. The Hebrew root suggests someone who goes beyond normal expectations, fitting for a character who brings extraordinary wisdom to Israel’s leadership structure.
Listen (שָׁמַע, shama): This word, used in verse 19, carries deeper meaning than mere auditory reception. It implies both hearing and acting upon what is heard, the same root used in the famous Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). Jethro’s advice required both hearing and implementation.
Teach (זָהַר, zahar): The Hebrew verb used in verse 20 literally means “to shine” or “to enlighten,” suggesting that teaching God’s ways should illuminate and bring clarity to people’s lives.
Fear (יָרֵא, yare): In verse 21, this term describes a required characteristic of leaders. It combines reverence with awe, indicating not just emotional fear but a deep respect that influences behavior and decision-making.
Able (חַיִל, chayil): This word in verse 21 is the same used to describe Ruth as a “woman of valor.” It connotes both capability and moral strength, suggesting leaders should possess both practical competence and ethical integrity.
Covetousness (בֶצַע, betza): Used in verse 21, this term specifically relates to unjust gain or profit, emphasizing the importance of selecting leaders who are free from corruption.
Heavy (כָּבֵד, kaved): The word used to describe Moses’ burden in verse 18 is the same root as “glory” (kavod), creating a wordplay that suggests even glorious responsibilities can become overwhelming without proper support.
Judge (שָׁפַט, shaphat): This term appears frequently in the chapter and implies more than just making legal decisions. It includes the concepts of governing, vindicating, and bringing order to chaos.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 4’s naming of Gershom and Eliezer reveals a deliberate contrast in Moses’ experience. While Gershom (גֵּרְשֹׁם) means “I have been a stranger,” Eliezer (אֱלִיעֶזֶר) means “my God is help.” This juxtaposition shows the progression from alienation to divine assistance in Moses’ life.
In verse 11, Jethro’s declaration “Now I know that יהוה is greater than all gods” uses the term יָדַעְתִּי (yadati), indicating experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual assent. This specific word choice emphasizes personal encounter over theoretical understanding.
The phrase “from morning until evening” in verse 13 employs מִן־הַבֹּקֶר עַד־הָעָרֶב, emphasizing the complete day cycle. This construction is deliberately chosen over other Hebrew time markers to stress the exhaustive nature of Moses’ judicial duties.
The criteria for judges in verse 21 uses four specific Hebrew terms: יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים (God-fearing), אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת (men of truth), שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע (haters of unjust gain), and אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל (capable men). Each term was carefully selected to build a comprehensive profile of godly leadership.
In verse 23, the phrase “if God commands you so” (וְצִוְּךָ אֱלֹהִים) uses a conditional structure, showing Jethro’s wisdom in submitting his advice to divine approval, rather than presenting it as an autonomous human solution.

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Exodus 18 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating intersection of divine and human wisdom. Jethro, though a Midianite priest, demonstrates remarkable spiritual insight. According to Midrash Rabbah, Jethro had experimented with every form of idolatry before recognizing the supremacy of יהוה. This background adds depth to his declaration in verse 11, suggesting that his testimony carried particular weight as someone who had investigated all alternatives.

The early church father Origen saw in this chapter a prefiguring of the relationship between the synagogue (represented by Jethro) and the church (represented by Moses). He noted how wisdom could flow both ways, with the “elder brother” (Judaism) sometimes providing insight to the “younger brother” (Christianity). This interpretation emphasizes the ongoing relationship between Jewish and Christian understanding of Scripture.

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 93b) discusses the significance of the numerical organization (thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens) proposed by Jethro. It suggests these divisions corresponded to natural social units within Israel, making the system both practical and culturally appropriate. Some rabbinical sources also note that these numbers add up to 1,110, which they connect to the gematria of various biblical phrases suggesting divine approval.

The placement of this administrative reorganization before the giving of the Torah at Sinai is seen by many Jewish commentators as significant. They argue that it demonstrates how basic social order and justice must precede spiritual revelation – a principle later echoed in the rabbinic concept of “derech eretz kadma l’Torah” (proper conduct precedes Torah).

Exodus 18 Connections to Yeshua

The leadership structure established in this chapter foreshadows aspects of Messiah Yeshua’s kingdom administration. Just as Moses delegated authority while retaining ultimate responsibility, Yeshua delegates authority to His body while remaining the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23). The pattern of shared leadership and distributed responsibility is reflected in the New Testament’s teaching about spiritual gifts and church governance.

The chapter also illustrates the principle of divine wisdom coming through unexpected sources, paralleling how the Messiah often worked through unlikely individuals and circumstances. Just as Jethro, a Midianite priest, brought wisdom to Israel, Yeshua repeatedly used outsiders and unexpected individuals to teach spiritual truths. This pattern continues in the early church, where God used both Jews and Gentiles to build His kingdom (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Exodus 18 Scriptural Echoes

The organizational principle established here resonates throughout Scripture. We see it echoed in the appointment of deacons in Acts 6:1-7, where the early church similarly delegated responsibilities to maintain efficient ministry. The qualifications for leaders mirror those found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.

Jethro’s recognition of יהוה’s supremacy prefigures other Gentile acknowledgments of God’s power, such as Naaman (2 Kings 5:15) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-35). The principle of seeking counsel finds parallels in Proverbs 11:14 and Proverbs 15:22.

Exodus 18 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our approach to leadership and responsibility. Like Moses, many of us may be carrying burdens that God never intended us to bear alone. The narrative encourages us to remain humble and open to wisdom, regardless of its source. It reminds us that effective spiritual leadership involves both divine guidance and practical wisdom.

The chapter also prompts us to consider our role in God’s organizational structure. Whether we’re in leadership positions or supporting roles, we’re called to serve with integrity, fear of God, and truthfulness. We should ask ourselves: Are we operating in our proper place within God’s order? Are we willing to both give and receive counsel?

Did You Know

The Talmud records that Jethro had seven names, each reflecting different aspects of his character and life experiences. The name “Jethro” was given to him after he added a passage to the Torah (the section containing his advice to Moses).
According to Jewish tradition, Jethro’s role as “priest of Midian” involved him investigating and eventually rejecting all forms of idolatry before accepting the God of Israel.
The system of jurisprudence established here became the foundation for the Jewish Sanhedrin and influenced many aspects of both Jewish and Christian church governance.
The phrase “father-in-law” appears 14 times in this chapter, emphasizing the importance of family relationships in God’s plan.
The organizational structure (thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens) proposed by Jethro has been adopted by various military organizations throughout history.
Jethro is one of the few non-Israelites in the Torah to offer a sacrifice to יהוה that was accepted.
The meeting between Moses and Jethro took place in what Jewish tradition calls “the second year of the Exodus,” suggesting this system was in place before the giving of the Torah.
Some scholars suggest that Zipporah’s return with Jethro indicates she had previously returned to her father’s house during the exodus from Egypt, though this isn’t explicitly stated in the text.

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