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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 18 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/exodus/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/exodus/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Exodus 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../exodus/17.htm" title="Exodus 17">◄</a> Exodus 18 <a href="../exodus/19.htm" title="Exodus 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/exodus/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Jethro’s Visit to Moses</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the LORD had rescued them from Egypt.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Earlier, Moses had sent his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons back to Jethro, who had taken them in. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>(Moses’ first son was named Gershom,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>His second son was named Eliezer,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, now came to visit Moses in the wilderness. He brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him, and they arrived while Moses and the people were camped near the mountain of God. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Jethro had sent a message to Moses, saying, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to see you with your wife and your two sons.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>“Praise the LORD,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence.</p><p class="hdg">Jethro’s Wise Advice</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>“You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">18:3 </span><span class="it">Gershom</span><span class="ft"> sounds like a Hebrew term that means “a foreigner there.”</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">18:4 </span><span class="it">Eliezer</span><span class="ft"> means “God is my helper.”</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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