Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 18

1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

*When Jethro, who was Moses's father-in-law and a priest from Midian, learned about everything God did for Moses and the Israelites, as well as how the LORD rescued the Israelites from Egypt,

2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

*Then Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, returned Moses's wife, Zipporah, to him.

3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

*And she had two sons, one named Gershom, because he said, "I was a stranger in a foreign place."

4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

*And the other's name was Eliezer; he said that his father's God protected him and saved him from Pharaoh's sword.

5 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

*Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, arrived with his sons and wife to visit Moses in the desert. They set up camp at a mountain called the "Mount of God."

6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

*He told Moses, "I'm your father-in-law, Jethro. I came with you, your wife, and her two kids."

7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

*Moses went to greet his father-in-law, bowed, and hugged him. They both asked how the other was doing. Then they entered a tent together.

8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

*Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord did to free the Israelites from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, including their struggles on the journey, and how the Lord saved them.

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

*Jethro was very happy about how kind the LORD was to Israel, the people He saved from the control of the Egyptians.

10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

*Jethro said, "Thank you, God, for saving us from the Egyptians and Pharaoh, and freeing the people from their control."

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

*Now I understand that the LORD is bigger than all other gods, because in the area where they were arrogant, he was superior to them.

12 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

*Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, offered a sacrifice to God. Then Aaron and the older leaders of Israel joined them for a meal in God's presence with Moses's father-in-law.

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

*The next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and they waited for him from morning till night.

14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

*When Moses' father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is this thing you are doing to the people? Why do you sit alone while everyone else stands next to you from morning till night?"

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

*Moses told his father-in-law, "People come to me asking about God, so..."

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

*When people have a problem, they come to me. I decide between the two parties and teach them God's rules and laws.

17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

*Moses' father-in-law told him, "What you're doing isn't right."

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

*You will definitely tire, both you and these people with you, because this task is too much for you; you cannot do it by yourself.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

*Listen to my words. I will guide you, and God will be with you. Be a leader for the people towards God so you can present their issues to Him.

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

*"You will teach them rules and laws, showing them the path to follow and the tasks they need to do."

21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

*In addition, choose skilled people who respect God and are honest, and hate greed. Put these men in charge of groups of a thousand, a hundred, fifty, and ten people each.

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

*Let them judge the people all the time. Big issues should come to you, while small ones can be handled by them. This will make things easier for you, and they'll help share the load.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

*If you do what God tells you to, you'll be strong enough to handle it, and everyone will go to their destination safely and peacefully.

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

*So Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and did everything he suggested.

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

*Moses picked skilled leaders from all of Israel and made them in charge of the people as leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifty, and leaders of ten.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

*At all times, they made decisions with Moses for difficult cases, but handled minor matters on their own.

27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

*Moses saw his father-in-law leave, and he went back to his own country.

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