The Visit of Jethro 1 UDB Jethro, who was the priest for the people of Midian, and who was also Moses's father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for the Israelite people. He heard about how Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt. BSB BSB: Now 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.
2 UDB Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and his two sons back home when he was returning to Egypt. But now Jethro came to him, BSB BSB: After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
3 UDB bringing Zipporah and her sons. One son was named Gershom, which sounds like the Hebrew word that means "foreigner" because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner living in another land." BSB BSB: along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
4 UDB Her other son was named Eliezer, which sounds like the Hebrew word that means "God helps me" because Moses had said, "God, whom my father worshiped, has helped me and saved me from being killed by the king of Egypt." BSB BSB: The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
5 UDB While Moses was camped with the Israelite people in the wilderness near Sinai, God's holy mountain, Jethro came to him, bringing along Moses's wife and two sons. BSB BSB: Moses’ 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.
6 UDB Jethro had sent a message to Moses, "I, your father-in-law, Jethro, am coming to see you. I am bringing your wife and her two sons!" BSB BSB: He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7 UDB So Moses went out of the campsite to meet his father-in-law. He bowed before him and kissed him on the cheek. They both asked each other, "Have you been well?" Then they went into Moses's tent. BSB BSB: So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.
8 UDB Moses told Jethro everything that Yahweh had done to the king and all the other people in Egypt in order to help the Israelite people. He also told him about the troubles they had experienced on the way, and about how Yahweh had helped them. BSB BSB: Then 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.
9 UDB Jethro was happy when he heard all that Yahweh had done for the Israelite people. BSB BSB: And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 UDB He said, "Praise Yahweh, who has rescued you from the power of the Egyptian army, and out of the power of the Egyptians' king (who is called Pharaoh), and has set the Israelites free from the control of the Egyptian people! BSB BSB: Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
11 UDB Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all other gods because he rescued you from the power of the proud Egyptians when they were causing you to suffer." BSB BSB: Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
12 UDB Then Jethro brought an animal to sacrifice by burning it on the altar as an offering, and he also offered other sacrifices to God. Aaron and the Israelite elders went with them to eat a meal with Jethro to honor God. BSB BSB: Then 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.
Jethro Advises Moses (Deuteronomy 1:9–18)
13 UDB The next day, Moses sat down at the place where he settled disputes among the people. The people were bringing their disputes to Moses from the morning until the evening. BSB BSB: The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.
14 UDB When Jethro saw everything that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "Why are you doing all this for the people? Why are you doing this by yourself, and why are all the people standing around you from the morning until the evening, asking you to make decisions for them?" BSB BSB: When 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?”
15 UDB Moses replied, "I am doing this because the people keep coming to me to find out what God desires. BSB BSB: “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.
16 UDB When they have a dispute about something, they come to me, and they ask me to decide which of them is right. I also tell them all of God's laws and instructions." BSB BSB: “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.”
17 UDB Jethro said to him, "What you are doing is not good for you or for the people. BSB BSB: But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
18 UDB You and these people will wear yourselves out! This work is too much for you. You are not able to do it by yourself. BSB BSB: Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.
19 UDB Now listen to what I will tell you to do. If you do what I suggest, God will help you. You should continue to speak to God and tell him about the people's disputes. BSB BSB: Now 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.
20 UDB You should also teach them what God has commanded and instructed you. You should also explain to them how they should conduct their lives and the things that they should do. BSB BSB: Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.
21 UDB In addition, you should choose some other men to help you. Choose men who have respect for God and who will not accept bribes. Appoint some of them to make decisions for groups of ten people, some for groups of fifty people, some for groups of a hundred people, and some for groups of a thousand people. BSB BSB: Furthermore, 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.
22 UDB Allow them to serve to settle disputes for the people. The difficult matters they can bring to you, but the matters that are not difficult, they can decide themselves. That will make the work easier for you as they help you do that work. BSB BSB: Have 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.
23 UDB If you do that, and if God agrees, you will be able to endure the stress, and all the people will be able to go home peacefully with their disputes settled quickly." BSB BSB: If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”
24 UDB Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that Jethro told him. BSB BSB: Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 UDB Then Moses chose capable men from among the Israelite people and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. BSB BSB: So 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.
26 UDB Moses chose them to decide about the people's disputes. They brought the difficult cases to Moses, but they decided the matters that were not difficult by themselves. BSB BSB: And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
27 UDB Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro returned home. BSB BSB: Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own land.