1   Jethro priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heard all that God had done for Moses and Israel his people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2   When Moses had dismissed his wife Zipporah, 3   Jethro his father-in-law had received her and her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom, ‘for’, said Moses, ‘I have become

The exodus from Egypt an alien ^note living in a foreign land’; 4   the other's name was Eliezer, ^note ‘for’, he said, ‘the God of my father was my help and saved me from Pharaoh's sword.’

5   Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, now came to him with his sons and his wife, to the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6   Moses was told, ‘Here ^note is Jethro, your father-in-law, coming to you with your wife and her two sons.’ 7   Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed low to him and kissed him, and they greeted one another. 8   When they came into the tent Moses told him all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel's sake, and about all their hardships on the journey, and how the Lord had saved them. 9   Jethro rejoiced at all the good the Lord had done for Israel in saving them from the power of Egypt. 10    11   He said, ‘Blessed be the Lord who has saved you from the power of Egypt and of Pharaoh. Now I know that the Lord is the greatest of all gods, because he has delivered the people from the power of the Egyptians who dealt so arrogantly with them.’ 12   Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a whole-offering and sacrifices for God; and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came and shared the meal with Jethro in the presence of God.

13   The next day Moses took his seat to settle disputes among the people, and they were standing round him from morning till evening. 14   When Jethro saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What are you doing for all these people? Why do you sit alone with all of them standing round you from morning till evening?’ 15   ‘The people come to me’, Moses answered, ‘to seek God's guidance. 16   Whenever there is a dispute among them, they come to me, and I decide between man and man. 17   I declare the statutes and laws of God.’ But his father-in-law said to Moses, ‘This is not the best way to do it. 18   You will only wear yourself out and wear out all the people who are here. The task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it by yourself. 19   Now listen to me: take my advice, and God be with you. It is for you to be the people's representative before God, and bring their disputes to him. 20   You must instruct them in the statutes and laws, and teach them how they must behave and what they must do. 21   But you must yourself search for capable, God-fearing men among all the people, honest and incorruptible men, and appoint them over the people as officers over units of a thousand, of a hundred, of fifty or of ten. 22   They shall sit as a permanent court for the people; they must refer difficult cases to you but decide simple cases themselves. In this way your burden will be lightened, and they will share it with you. 23   If you do this, God will give you strength, and you will be able to go on. And, moreover, this whole people will here and now regain peace and harmony.’ 24   Moses listened to his

The exodus from Egypt father-in-law and did all he had suggested. 25   He chose capable men from all Israel and appointed them leaders of the people, officers over units of a thousand, of a hundred, of fifty or of ten. 26   They sat as a permanent court, bringing the difficult cases to Moses but deciding simple cases themselves. 27   Moses set his father-in-law on his way, and he went back to his own country.

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