Exodus
Chapter 18
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Leningrad Codex, through the Open Scriptures Westminster Leningrad Codex. The written consonants are printed. A Masoretic reading is footnoted when it differs. No Dead Sea reading was substituted unless it was read from a fragment. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Greek, Syriac, and Latin versions are witnesses, not the default.
A dotted word is a harder one. Point at it, or tap it, for a short definition.
1Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, that God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent away,
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Achar shillucheha says after her sending away. Chapter 4 had Moses take his wife and sons toward Egypt. This verse is not rewritten to match that journey.
3and her two sons. One was named Gershom, because he said, “I have been a A person living in a land that is not their own. in a foreign land.”
4The other was named Eliezer, because “the God of my father was my help, and he rescued me from Pharaoh’s sword.”
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Eliezer is “my God is help.” This is the first time the name is written. It was not added to chapter 4.
5Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses, to the wilderness where he was camped, the mountain of God.
6He said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, and your wife, and her two sons with her.”
7Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed and kissed him, and they asked each other about their peace, and they went into the tent.
8Moses told his father-in-law everything God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt on Israel’s account, all the hardship that had found them on the way, and how God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. had rescued them.
9Jethro rejoiced over all the good God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. had done for Israel, in rescuing them from Egypt’s hand.
10Jethro said, “Blessed is God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary., who rescued you from Egypt’s hand and from Pharaoh’s hand, who rescued the people from under Egypt’s hand.
11Now I know that God’s own name. The Hebrew writes YHWH. See the glossary. is greater than all the gods, because in the thing in which they acted insolently against them.”
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The verse ends on that “because.” Leningrad does not finish the clause. No ending is supplied.
12Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a whole offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
13The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.
14Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for the people and said, “What is this thing you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, with all the people standing around you from morning until evening?”
15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
16When they have a matter, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his fellow, and I make known God’s Rules that are meant to last. and his instructions.”
17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not good.
18You will wear out, you will wear out, both you and this people who are with you, because the thing is too heavy for you. You cannot do it alone.
19Now listen to my voice. I will advise you, and may God be with you. You be for the people in front of God, and you bring the matters to God.
20You shall warn them about the Rules that are meant to last. and the instructions, and make known to them the way they should walk and the work they should do.
21You shall look among all the people for men of worth, who fear God, men of truth, who hate a greedy cut. Set them over them as officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties, and officers of tens.
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Anshei chayil are men of worth, of capability. Betza is a cut taken for oneself, a greedy gain. “A bribe” is narrower than the word, and it is not printed.
22Let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, and every small matter they shall judge. Lighten it from you, and let them carry it with you.
23If you do this thing, and God commands you, you will be able to stand, and all this people too will come to its place in peace.”
24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s voice and did everything he said.
25Moses chose men of worth from all Israel and set them as heads over the people: officers of thousands, officers of hundreds, officers of fifties, and officers of tens.
26They judged the people at all times. The hard matter they would bring to Moses, and every small matter they would judge themselves.
27Moses sent his father-in-law off, and he went to his own land.