Exodus 18:22 - Prayer Tents

Jethro Visits Moses

18Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.H3503H3548H4080H4872H2859H8085H430H6213H4872H3478H5971H3068H3318H3478H4714

2Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken back Moses' wife Zipporah after she had been sent away,H3503H4872H2859H3947H6855H4872H802H310H7964

3along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, for he said, "I was an alien in a foreign land,"H8147H1121H8034H259H1647H559H1616H5237H776

4while the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God helped me and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."1H8034H259H461H430H1H5828H5337H2719H6547

5Moses' father-in-law Jethro, together with Moses' two sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camped at the mountain of God.H3503H4872H2859H935H1121H802H4872H4057H2583H2022H430

6He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you along with your wife and her two sons."H559H4872H2859H3503H935H802H8147H1121

7When Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, he bowed low and kissed him, and they greeted one another. Then they went into the tent.H4872H3318H7125H2859H7812H5401H7592H376H7453H7965H935H168

8Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians on Israel's behalf, all the hardships that they had encountered along the way, and how the Lord had delivered them.H4872H5608H2859H3068H6213H6547H4714H3478H182H8513H4672H1870H3068H5337

9Jethro rejoiced over all the good that the Lord had done for Israel in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.H3503H2302H2896H3068H6213H3478H5337H3027H4714

10Jethro said, "Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from the oppression of the Egyptians.H3503H559H1288H3068H5337H3027H4714H3027H6547H5337H5971H3027H4714

11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because of what happened to the Egyptians when they acted arrogantly against Israel."H3045H3068H1419H430H1697H2102

12Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to dine with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.H3503H4872H2859H3947H5930H2077H430H175H935H2205H3478H398H3899H4872H2859H6440H430

Jethro Advises Moses to Appoint Judges

13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.H4283H4872H3427H8199H5971H5971H5975H4872H1242H6153

14When 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 alone sit as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?"H4872H2859H7200H6213H5971H559H1697H6213H5971H3427H5971H5324H1242H6153

15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.H4872H559H2859H5971H935H1875H430

16When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a person and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of God and his instructions."H1697H935H8199H376H7453H3045H2706H430H8451

17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.H4872H2859H559H1697H6213H2896

18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot do it by yourself.H5034H5034H5971H1697H3515H3201H6213

19Now listen to me. I'll advise you, and may God be with you. You are to represent the people before God and shall bring the disputes to God.H8085H6963H3289H430H1961H5971H4136H430H935H1697H430

20You are to teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they're to go and the things they're to do.H2094H853H2706H8451H3045H1870H3212H4639H6213

21"You are to look for capable men among the people, men who fear God, men of integrity who hate dishonest gain. You are to set these men over them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.H2372H5971H2428H582H3373H430H582H571H8130H1215H7760H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H6235

22They shall judge the people at all times. Let them bring every major matter to you, but let them judge every minor matter. It will lighten your burden, and they'll bear it with you.H8199H5971H6256H1419H1697H935H6996H1697H8199H7043H5375

23If you do this, and God so commands you, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will also go to their homes in peace."H6213H1697H430H6680H3201H5975H5971H935H4725H7965

24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.H4872H8085H6963H2859H6213H559

25Moses chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.H4872H977H2428H582H3478H5414H7218H5971H8269H505H8269H3967H8269H2572H8269H6235

26They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged.H8199H5971H6256H7186H1697H935H4872H6996H1697H1992H8199

27Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and he went to his own land.1826H4872H2859H7971H3212H776