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Exodus 18

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 18 of 40

1 And Jethro the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard all that which God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, that Jehovah had caused Israel to go out from Egypt.

2 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife (after Moses had sent her away,)

3 and her two sons; one's name was Gershom (for he said, I have become an alien in a foreign land);

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Chapter Summary

1 Jethro meets Moses with his wife and sons. 7 Moses entertains him.. 27 Jethro departs.

Key Hebrew Words

חֹתֵן father-in-law H2859 · TWOT 781a
שָׁפַט judge H8199 · TWOT 2443
יָעַץ counsel, advise H3289 · TWOT 887
תּוֹרָה law, instruction H8451 · TWOT 910d
חֹק statute H2706 · TWOT 728a
שַׂר ruler, chief H8269 · TWOT 2295a

People & Context

Jethro

priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law; rejoices in Israel's deliverance and counsels Moses to delegate judging

Moses

recounts Jehovah's deliverance to Jethro and adopts his advice to appoint rulers over the people

Zipporah

Moses' wife, brought by Jethro after being sent home, with her two sons

Aaron

comes with the elders of Israel to eat bread before God with Jethro

Gershom

Moses' son named for being an alien in a foreign land

Eliezer

Moses' son named because the God of his father was his help against Pharaoh's sword

Timeline

Jethro Visits Moses

Jethro brings Zipporah and her sons to Moses at Mount of God. He rejoices at God's deliverance and offers sacrifices.

Exodus 18:1-12
Jethro's Counsel

Jethro observes Moses judging all day and advises appointing capable men as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Moses implements this system.

Exodus 18:13-27

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