Exodus 18
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1Moses's father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for God's people Israel when the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt.1וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
2Now Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah, Moses's wife, after he had sent her back,2וַיִּקַּ֗ח יִתְרוֹ֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־ צִפֹּרָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת מֹשֶׁ֑ה אַחַ֖ר שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃
3along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a resident alien in a foreign land")3וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יהָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃
4and the other Eliezer (because he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and rescued me from Pharaoh's sword").4וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר כִּֽי־ אֱלֹהֵ֤י אָבִי֙ בְּעֶזְרִ֔י וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי מֵחֶ֥רֶב פַּרְעֹֽה׃
5Moses's father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses's wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.5וַיָּבֹ֞א יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה אֶל־ הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־ ה֛וּא חֹנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."6וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲנִ֛י חֹתֶנְךָ֥ יִתְר֖וֹ בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶ֖יהָ עִמָּֽהּ׃
7So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been and went into the tent.7וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ אִישׁ־ לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃
8Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the LORD rescued them.8וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְפַרְעֹ֣ה וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֤ת כָּל־ הַתְּלָאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְצָאָ֣תַם בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
9Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel when he rescued them from the power of the Egyptians.9וַיִּ֣חַדְּ יִתְר֔וֹ עַ֚ל כָּל־ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצִּיל֖וֹ מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרָֽיִם׃
10"Blessed be the LORD," Jethro exclaimed, "who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has rescued the people from under the power of Egypt!10וַיֹּאמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel."11עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־ גָד֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
12Then Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses's father-in-law in God's presence.12וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכָל־ לֶ֛חֶם עִם־ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
13The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening.13וַיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־ הָעָ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִן־ הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃
14When Moses's father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, "What is this thing you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"14וַיַּרְא֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה עֹשֶׂה֙ לָעָ֔ם מַדּ֗וּעַ אַתָּ֤ה יוֹשֵׁב֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְכָל־ הָעָ֛ם נִצָּ֥ב עָלֶ֖יךָ מִן־ בֹּ֥קֶר עַד־ עָֽרֶב׃
15Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.15וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י הָעָ֖ם לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
16Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God's statutes and laws."16כִּֽי־ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־ חֻקֵּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶת־ תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃
17"What you're doing is not good," Moses's father-in-law said to him.17וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־ טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
18"You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone.18נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־ אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־ הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־ תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃
19Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him.19עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ וִיהִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּ֑ךְ הֱיֵ֧ה אַתָּ֣ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
20Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.20וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־ הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃
21But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.21וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכָּל־ הָ֠עָם אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
22They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every major case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you.22וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־ הָעָם֮ בְּכָל־ עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃
23If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied."23אִ֣ם אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְצִוְּךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ עֲמֹ֑ד וְגַם֙ כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־ מְקֹמ֖וֹ יָבֹ֥א בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
24Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.24וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְק֣וֹל חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמָֽר׃
25So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.25וַיִּבְחַ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֙יִל֙ מִכָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
26They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.26וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־ עֵ֑ת אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַקָּשֶׁה֙ יְבִיא֣וּן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם׃
27Moses let his father-in-law go, and he journeyed to his own land.27וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־ חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ ל֖וֹ אֶל־ אַרְצֽוֹ׃ פ
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Exodus 17
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