Who is Jethro in this passage and why does he visit Moses?

Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law and a priest in Midian. He comes after hearing what God has done for Moses and Israel, especially how God brought them out of Egypt. Jethro brings Zipporah, Moses’ wife, and their two sons back to him in the wilderness near the mountain of God. His visit is both family and spiritual. He wants to rejoice in God’s goodness, hear the full story from Moses’ own mouth, worship God with Israel’s leaders, and then offer wise counsel about how Moses should care for the people.

Why had Moses sent Zipporah and his sons away, and what do their names mean?

The passage hints that Moses had earlier sent Zipporah and their sons back to her father, likely to keep them safe and to avoid extra trouble while he faced Pharaoh. When they return, the names of the boys are explained. Gershom means Moses had been “an alien in a strange land,” pointing to his years away from his people. Eliezer means “my God is help,” because God had helped and rescued Moses from Pharaoh’s sword. Their names remind Moses of God’s care through fear, exile, and danger.

What does Jethro mean by saying the Lord is greater than all gods?

When Jethro hears how God defeated Egypt and Pharaoh, he responds with praise and a confession: “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods.” He is not saying other gods are equal to the Lord, but speaking from a world where many false gods were worshiped. By seeing how God judged proud Egypt in the very way they sinned, he recognizes that Israel’s God is above every rival claim. This leads him to bless the Lord, offer sacrifice, and share a meal with Moses, Aaron, and the elders before God.

Why was Moses judging the people from morning to evening?

Moses explains that the people came to him to ask about God, to have their disputes settled, and to learn God’s statutes and laws. Since he was the one who had spoken with God and led them out of Egypt, everyone brought their questions and conflicts directly to him. This meant long days where he sat as judge from morning until evening. He was trying to be faithful to his calling, but doing it alone was wearing him out and leaving the people standing and waiting for help and guidance.

Why does Jethro say, “The thing that thou doest is not good”?

Jethro sees that Moses is handling every case by himself, all day long. He loves Moses and the people enough to speak plainly. He tells Moses, “The thing that thou doest is not good,” not because judging is wrong, but because doing it alone will exhaust him and frustrate the people. He warns that this load is too heavy and that Moses will wear out. Jethro’s concern is both practical and spiritual: he wants Moses to endure and the people to be cared for well, under God’s guidance.

What kind of men was Moses told to appoint as leaders and judges?

Jethro tells Moses to choose able men from all the people who meet clear character marks. They must fear God, so they care what God thinks. They must be men of truth, honest and reliable. They must hate covetousness, so they will not twist justice for money or gain. These men are to be set over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, handling everyday cases while bringing the hardest matters to Moses. This shows that skill alone is not enough; character and reverence for God are key in any leadership role.

What is the purpose of the rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens?

The different levels of rulers form a simple structure so the people’s needs are met without overloading one man. Everyday disputes and smaller matters are settled by leaders over tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands. Only the great and difficult cases come up to Moses. This makes life easier for Moses and more peaceful for the people. It spreads the burden, keeps justice closer to where people live, and still keeps Moses in his place as the one who brings the hardest causes to God.

What does this passage teach about leadership and sharing burdens today?

This passage shows that even godly leaders have limits and need help. Moses was chosen by God and yet still needed counsel and partners. Good leadership includes listening to wise advice, teaching people God’s ways, and sharing work with others who are faithful and trustworthy. Today this can guide pastors, parents, and other leaders to avoid carrying everything alone. It invites them to pray, teach clearly, appoint dependable helpers, and build structures that serve people well so that communities can walk in God’s ways in peace.

Why does Jethro offer sacrifices and eat with Moses, Aaron, and the elders?

After hearing what God has done and confessing that the Lord is greater than all gods, Jethro responds with worship. He offers a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and the elders of Israel then come to eat bread with him before God. This shared meal around sacrifice shows unity in worship and thankfulness. It brings together a Midianite priest and Israel’s leaders at one table in God’s presence. The scene shows that when God’s work is honored, it draws people into shared praise and fellowship.

Exod.18.1

Exodus 18:1

KJV

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;

The Visit of Jethro

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;

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

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:

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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above 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 Advises Moses

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.