Exodus 18 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible

Exodus 18

1 - Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

2 - Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, received Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away,

3 - and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land".

4 - The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, "My father's God was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword."

5 - Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of God.

6 - He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her."

7 - Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent.

8 - Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9 - Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 - Jethro said, "Blessed be The LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11 - Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."

12 - Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13 - On the next day, Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening.

14 - When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?"

15 - Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 - When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."

17 - Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good.

18 - You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone.

19 - Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.

20 - You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 - Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men which fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

22 - Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.

23 - If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace."

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

25 - 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 - They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27 - Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

Select a Chapter

Select a Book of the Bible

Exodus 18 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Jethro comes to Moses with Moses' wife Zipporah and his two sons, Jethro is amazed at the goodness of God, Jethro offers burnt offerings to the Lord, Jethro observes Moses sitting in the judgment seat and hearing all the cases of the people of Israel, Jethro encourages Moses to get more organized and train elders to hear the cases of the people, and to delegate his authority on to lesser judges, Jethro departs to his own land.

Outline
1 Jethro brings to Moses his wife and two sons
7 Moses entertains him
13 Jethro's counsel to Moses is heeded
27 Jethro departs to his own land

Painting of Jethro Advising Moses (Click to Enlarge)

Important Topics for Bible Study
Jethro comes to Moses with his wife and children
their names are Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer
Moses goes to meet his father-in-law Jethro
Moses does obeisance and kisses him
Moses explains all of God's providence and goodness to Jethro
Jethro is overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving
Jethro acknowledges the great power of the Lord
Jethro Sacrifices and makes burnt offerings to the Lord
Moses goes to hear the cases and judge the people of Israel
Jethro does not like what he is observing about Moses
Moses explains himself to Jethro and Jethro offers him advice
Moses agrees and takes the advice of his father-in-law
Moses chooses : able men as judges
The judges carry the him him burden of most cases
The hardest cases are brought before Moses
Jethro departs to his own land him

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Possible Route of the Exodus (Click to Enlarge)

Ancient Customs
elders
judges
cases
father-in-law

Ancient People
God, Moses, Aaron, Jethro, Zipporah, Gershom, Eliezer
the LORD

Geography
the wilderness
the mount of God
the land of Jethro

Quick Reference Maps

The Exodus of the Hebrews

Mount Horeb

The Red Sea

Map of the Red Sea and Egypt (Click to Enlarge)

The Old Testament

Exodus Resources

Moses and the Exodus
The Giving of the Law
The Tabernacle
The Wilderness Wanderings