Exodus 18 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Exodus 18

Jethro’s Advice

18:1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner¹ in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer² (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I,³ your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”⁴ 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, 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 before God.

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this 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, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

Footnotes

[1] 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner
[2] 18:4 Eliezer means My God is help
[3] 18:6 Hebrew; Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac behold
[4] 18:11 Hebrew with them

Commentary

v1-6: Moses had earlier married Zipporah, see 2.21-22. She had remained with her father Jethro since Moses returned to Egypt in 4.24-26.

v7-8: Moses shared with Jethro about what had happened.

v9: Jethro rejoiced with Moses over all that the Lord had done for Israel. It is good to share in the joy of others, Rom 12.15.

v11: The events reported were a testimony to Jethro, who as a Midianite, did not know the true God. He referred to the Egyptians in general, and to Pharaoh (1.12), and the magicians (8.19) in particular, who had treated Israel arrogantly. Jethro realised that God had acted in power for His own Name's sake.

v12: Jethro shared in the worship of God. We may say he was the first convert to the Jewish faith.

v13: The practice of Moses on this day was evidently his regular practice, to judge the people. By this he resolved their disputes.

v14: Jethro observed what Moses was doing. He first just asked Moses what he was doing.

v15-16: Moses' reply was that he taught the people God's decrees and laws (for example in 16.23). Only later was the law written down, and the people entered into the Covenant of Law. Even so, God's standards of righteousness remain. Moses was also sorting out their disputes, using the law to teach the people the right way to live.

v17-18: Jethro's wisdom. He said that the practice was not good, for both Moses and the people were suffering. The one-man ministry is not good.

v19-20: Moses' role defined as the priestly role, to lay down God's standard for the people, and to be God's representative among the people.

v21-22: The work of resolving disputes was to be delegated to able men of righteous character. Such men would share Moses' load. In a similar way, authority and responsibility in the church is borne by elders and deacons. The selection of these men is by the standards of God, not by human opinion.

v23: Jethro was confident that the new leadership structure would bring a great blessing to all the people.

v24-26: Moses implemented Jethro's advice, recognising his wisdom. Later the Lord gave His Spirit upon 70 of the men, so they could share the burden with Moses, Num 11.16-17.