Thematic Bible
Exodus 18:1 (show verse)
Now Jethro (Reuel), 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.
Exodus 18:2 (show verse)
Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt],
Exodus 18:3 (show verse)
along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
Exodus 18:4 (show verse)
The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
Exodus 18:5 (show verse)
Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb].
Exodus 18:6 (show verse)
He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.”
Exodus 18:7 (show verse)
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent.
Exodus 18:8 (show verse)
Moses told his father-in-law about all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the Lord had rescued them.
Exodus 18:9 (show verse)
Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
Exodus 18:10 (show verse)
Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
Exodus 18:11 (show verse)
Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the Lord showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].”
Exodus 18:12 (show verse)
Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
Exodus 18:13 (show verse)
Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk.
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Judges of » Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » Justice administered during
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Israel » Judges of » General references to
Judges of israel » General references to
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts of justice » Judges of » Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » Justice administered during
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Israel » Judges of » General references to
Judges of israel » General references to
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:14 (show verse)
When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?”
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:15 (show verse)
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:16 (show verse)
When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
the Law of moses » All israelites required » To know
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
the Law of moses » All israelites required » To know
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:17 (show verse)
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Exodus 18:18 (show verse)
You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone.
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Exodus 18:19 (show verse)
Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him.
Counsel » Wise » Examples of
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Wise » Choice, examples of » Counsel, examples of
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Wise » Choice, examples of » Counsel, examples of
Exodus 18:20 (show verse)
You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.
Church of israel » Had » Appointed ordinances
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
God » Mercy of » Ordinances of
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Mountains » Mentioned in scripture » Sinai
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Held first by moses alone in the wilderness
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
God » Mercy of » Ordinances of
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Mountains » Mentioned in scripture » Sinai
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Exodus 18:21 (show verse)
Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Court » Superior, and inferior
Courts » Other courts » Inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Inferior » Judges of, appointed by the governor
Covetousness » Hated by saints
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Magistrates » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Magistrates » To be wisely selected and appointed
Magistrates » Should » Hate covetousness
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Rulers' » Wisdom and integrity essential to
The Nation » Of israel and judah rulers » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Truth » Magistrates should be men of
Courts » Other courts » Inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Inferior » Judges of, appointed by the governor
Covetousness » Hated by saints
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Magistrates » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Magistrates » To be wisely selected and appointed
Magistrates » Should » Hate covetousness
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Rulers' » Wisdom and integrity essential to
The Nation » Of israel and judah rulers » Wisdom and integrity essential to
Truth » Magistrates should be men of
Exodus 18:22 (show verse)
They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
Court » Superior, and inferior
Courts » Other courts » Inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Courts » Other courts » Inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Exodus 18:23 (show verse)
If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”
Court » Superior, and inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Prudence » Exemplified » Jethro
Prudence » Instances of » Jethro's advice to moses
Exodus 18:24 (show verse)
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.
Exodus 18:25 (show verse)
Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels].
Court » Superior, and inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Inferior » Judges of, appointed by the governor
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Israel » Organization » Government » Jethro
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Inferior » Judges of, appointed by the governor
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
Israel » Organization » Government » Jethro
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:26 (show verse)
And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves.
Court » Superior, and inferior
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Decided on all appeals and difficult cases
Courts of justice » Inferior » All minor cases decided by
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
journey of israel through the Desert » Justice administered during
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Courts » Other courts » Superior, held by moses
Courts of justice » Superior court » Decided on all appeals and difficult cases
Courts of justice » Inferior » All minor cases decided by
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Judges appointed
journey of israel through the Desert » Justice administered during
Government » Mosaic » Administrative and judicial system
moses » Institutes a system of government
Exodus 18:27 (show verse)
Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).
No Themes for this verse.