◄ Exodus 18 ►
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1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had 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׃
2After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, [his] father-in-law Jethro had taken her in, 2וַיִּקַּ֗ח יִתְרוֹ֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־ צִפֹּרָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת מֹשֶׁ֑ה אַחַ֖ר שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃
3along with her two sons. One [son] was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” 3וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יהָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃
4The other [son] was named Eliezer, because [Moses had said], “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” 4וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר כִּֽי־ אֱלֹהֵ֤י אָבִי֙ בְּעֶזְרִ֔י וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי מֵחֶ֥רֶב פַּרְעֹֽה׃
5Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped 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 and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent. 7וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ אִישׁ־ לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃
8Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. 8וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְפַרְעֹ֣ה וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֤ת כָּל־ הַתְּלָאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְצָאָ֣תַם בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃
9And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians. 9וַיִּ֣חַדְּ יִתְר֔וֹ עַ֚ל כָּל־ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצִּיל֖וֹ מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרָֽיִם׃
10Jethro declared, “Praise the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 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 other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel arrogantly.” 11עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־ גָד֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
12Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. 12וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכָל־ לֶ֛חֶם עִם־ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
13The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around [him] from morning until evening. 13וַיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־ הָעָ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִן־ הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃
14When [his] father-in-law saw all that [Moses] was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone [as judge], with all the people standing around you from morning till 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׃
15“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. 15וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ כִּֽי־ יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י הָעָ֖ם לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
16“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.” 16כִּֽי־ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־ חֻקֵּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶת־ תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃
17But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 17וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־ טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
18Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle 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 may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him. 19עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ וִיהִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּ֑ךְ הֱיֵ֧ה אַתָּ֣ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
20Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do. 20וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־ הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃
21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people— God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 21וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכָּל־ הָ֠עָם אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
22Have [these men] judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share 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 follow this advice and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.” 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 capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 25וַיִּבְחַ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אַנְשֵׁי־ חַ֙יִל֙ מִכָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃
26And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves. 26וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־ עֵ֑ת אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַקָּשֶׁה֙ יְבִיא֣וּן אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם׃
27Then Moses sent his father-in-law {on his way}, and [Jethro] returned to his own land. 27וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־ חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ ל֖וֹ אֶל־ אַרְצֽוֹ׃ פ
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