The Visit of Jethro
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, 1 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. Exo 2:16Exo 3:1Psa 77:14-15Act 14:27Act 7:35-36Gal 1:23-24Isa 63:11-13Jos 2:10
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, Exo 2:21Exo 4:25-26 along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, 2 for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” Exo 2:22Act 7:29Exo 4:20Heb 11:13Psa 39:121Pe 2:11 The other son was named Eliezer, 3 for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 2Co 1:8-102Ti 4:17Act 12:11Heb 13:61Ch 23:15Dan 6:22Exo 2:15Isa 50:7-9
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. Exo 3:1Exo 3:121Ki 19:8Exo 19:11Exo 19:20Exo 24:16-17 He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
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. Gen 29:131Ki 2:192Sa 11:7Gen 14:17Gen 18:2Gen 19:1Act 20:37Act 28:15 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. Neh 9:32Neh 9:9-15Num 20:14Psa 106:10Psa 107:2Psa 145:4-12Psa 78:42-43Psa 81:7
And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. 1Co 12:26Rom 12:15Isa 66:10Rom 12:10Isa 44:23 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. 2Sa 18:28Gen 14:20Luk 1:681Ki 8:151Pe 1:31Th 3:9Eph 1:3Psa 106:47-48 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.” Psa 95:3Exo 15:112Ch 2:5Luk 1:51Psa 135:51Ch 16:25Dan 4:37Psa 97:9
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. Deu 12:7Gen 31:54Exo 24:11Exo 24:51Ch 29:21-221Co 10:181Co 10:211Co 10:31
Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)
The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening. Isa 16:5Jdg 5:10Job 29:7Jol 3:12Mat 23:2Rom 12:8Rom 13:6 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?”
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. Num 15:34Num 27:5Deu 17:8-13Exo 18:19-20Lev 24:12-14Num 9:6Num 9:8 “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.” Exo 24:141Co 6:12Sa 15:3Deu 4:5Deu 5:11Sa 12:231Th 4:1-2Act 18:14-15
But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone. Num 11:14-17Act 6:1-42Co 12:15Php 2:301Th 2:8-9Deu 1:9-12
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. Num 27:5Deu 5:5Exo 20:19Exo 3:12Gen 39:22Sa 14:17Deu 20:1Exo 18:15 Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. Deu 5:1Psa 143:8Deu 1:18Deu 4:1Deu 4:5Psa 32:8Exo 18:161Sa 12:23
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. Act 6:32Ch 19:5-10Deu 1:13-17Deu 16:18-192Sa 23:31Sa 8:31Ti 3:32Pe 2:14-15
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. Num 11:17Deu 1:17-18Exo 18:26Lev 24:11Num 15:33Num 27:2Num 36:1Deu 17:8-9
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.” 1Sa 8:6-7Exo 18:181Sa 8:222Sa 18:3Gen 18:33Gen 21:10-122Sa 19:392Sa 21:17
Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 1Co 12:21Exo 18:19Exo 18:2-5Ezr 10:2Ezr 10:5Pro 1:5 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. Deu 1:15Exo 18:21Act 6:5 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. Exo 18:221Ki 10:11Ki 3:16-28Deu 17:8Exo 18:14-15Job 29:16
Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land. Num 10:29-30Jdg 19:9Gen 24:59Gen 31:55