The Visit of Jethro
1When Jethro,the priestof Midian,Moses'father in law,heardof all that Godhad donefor Moses,and for Israelhis people,[and] that the LORDhad broughtIsraelout of Egypt;2Then Jethro,Moses'father in law,tookZipporah,Moses'wife,afterhe had sent her back,3And her twosons;of which the nameof the one[was] Gershom;for he said,I have been an alienin a strangeland:4And the nameof the other[was] Eliezer;for the Godof my father,[said he, was] mine help,and deliveredme from the swordof Pharaoh:
5And Jethro,Moses'father in law,camewith his sonsand his wifeunto Mosesinto the wilderness,where he encampedat the mountof God:6And he saidunto Moses,I thy father in lawJethroam comeunto thee, and thy wife,and her twosonswith her.7And Moseswent outto meethis father in law,and did obeisance,and kissedhim; and they askedeachotherof [their] welfare;and they cameinto the tent.8And Mosestoldhis father in lawall that the LORDhad doneunto Pharaohand to the Egyptiansfor Israel'ssake,[and] all the travailthat had comeupon them by the way,and [how] the LORDdeliveredthem.9And Jethrorejoicedfor all the goodnesswhich the LORDhad doneto Israel,whom he had deliveredout of the handof the Egyptians.10And Jethrosaid,Blessed[be] the LORD,who hath deliveredyou out of the handof the Egyptians,and out of the handof Pharaoh,who hath deliveredthe peoplefrom under the handof the Egyptians.11Now I knowthat the LORD[is] greaterthan all gods:for in the thingwherein they dealt proudly[he was] above them.12And Jethro,Moses'father in law,tooka burnt offeringand sacrificesfor God:and Aaroncame,and all the eldersof Israel,to eatbreadwith Moses'father in lawbeforeGod.
Jethro Advises Moses
13And it came to pass on the morrow,that Mosessatto judgethe people:and the peoplestoodby Mosesfrom the morningunto the evening.14And when Moses'father in lawsawall that he didto the people,he said,What [is] this thingthat thou doestto the people?why sittestthou thyself alone, and all the peoplestandby thee from morningunto even?15And Mosessaidunto his father in law,Because the peoplecomeunto me to enquireof God:16When they have a matter,they comeunto me; and I judgebetween oneand another,and I do make [them] knowthe statutesof God,and his laws.
17And Moses'father in lawsaidunto him, The thingthat thou doest[is] not good.18Thou wilt surelywear away,both thou, and this peoplethat [is] with thee: for this thing[is] too heavyfor thee; thou art not ableto performit thyself alone.19Hearkennow unto my voice,I will give thee counsel,and Godshall bewith thee: Be thou for the peopleto God-ward,that thou mayest bringthe causesunto God:20And thou shalt teachthem ordinancesand laws,and shalt shewthem the waywherein they must walk,and the workthat they must do.21Moreover thou shalt provideout of all the peopleablemen,such as fearGod,menof truth,hatingcovetousness;and place[such] over them, [to be] rulersof thousands,[and] rulersof hundreds,rulersof fifties,and rulersof tens:22And let them judgethe peopleat all seasons:and it shall be, [that] every greatmatterthey shall bringunto thee, but every smallmatterthey shall judge:so shall it be easierfor thyself, and they shall bear[the burden] with thee.23If thou shalt dothis thing,and Godcommandthee [so], then thou shalt be ableto endure,and all this peopleshall also goto their placein peace.
24So Moseshearkenedto the voiceof his father in law,and didall that he had said.25And Moseschoseablemenout of all Israel,and madethem headsover the people,rulersof thousands,rulersof hundreds,rulersof fifties,and rulersof tens.26And they judgedthe peopleat all seasons:the hardcausesthey broughtunto Moses,but every smallmatterthey judgedthemselves.27And Moseslet his father in lawdepart;and he wenthis way into his own land.
