Jethro Helps Moses Share the Work

Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, heard what God had done for Moses and for Israel by bringing them out of Egypt. He came to Moses in the wilderness at the mountain of God, bringing Zipporah and Moses' two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, with him.

Moses went out to meet Jethro with honour and care. He bowed and kissed him, and they asked each other how they were before going into the tent. There Moses told Jethro what the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, the hardships on the journey, and how the Lord had rescued them.

Jethro rejoiced at all the good the Lord had done for Israel. He blessed the Lord, saying that the Lord had delivered the people from Egypt and was greater than all gods. Then Jethro brought offerings to God, and Aaron and the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

The next day, Moses sat to judge the people from morning until evening. Jethro saw this and asked why Moses was sitting alone while everyone stood waiting all day. Moses explained that the people came to inquire of God, and he decided their matters and taught them God's statutes and laws.

Jethro said this work was not good for one man to carry alone. He urged Moses to represent the people before God, bring matters to God, and teach the people the way they should walk. He also told Moses to choose able, trustworthy men who feared God and hated unjust gain, so they could judge smaller matters while the great matters still came to Moses.

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did what he said. He chose able men from all Israel and appointed them over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They judged the people at all times, bringing the hard cases to Moses. Then Jethro departed and went to his own land. Who helps you carry work that is too heavy to do alone?