Moses Appoints Rulers to Judge Israel. You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.
Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Exo 18:20-21
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Nation Israel Delivered and Organized
III. ISRAEL AT SINAI, Exodus 19:1-40:38
1. The Covenant Proposed and the People Prepared, Exodus 19:1-25
38. How did he benefit by Jethro’s advice?
JETHRO’S ADVICE
Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk.
When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?”
Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.
When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.
You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone.
Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him.
You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.
Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”
So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.
Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels].
And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves.
Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Exodus 18:13-27
MOSES APPOINTS RULERS TO JUDGE ISRAEL
Jethro’s frank acknowledgment of God’s supremacy and lovingkindness was extremely beautiful. Oh, for more wisdom to discern, and humble reverence to acknowledge the divine goodness wherever we encounter it. His advice also was most sagacious. It is far better to set a thousand people to work than attempt to do the work of a thousand. The greatest and most useful men are those who know how to devolve on others work for which these are quite competent, while they concentrate themselves on matters of the highest moment, which the others cannot undertake. Thus character is created. It is the highest service of all to bring men’s requests and causes to God, and then to show them the way in which they should walk and the work they should do. In the best sense this is what Jesus does for us all.
Comments by
WILLIAM MACDONALD
Believers Bible Commentary
On
Exodus 18:13-27
VIII. THE JOURNEY TO SINAI (15:22–18:27)
D. Moses and Jethro (Chap. 18)
18:13-27 When Jethro saw the tremendous task that fell to Moses in judging the people, he advised his son-in-law to select men of high character, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, to assist him. Jethro’s suggestion included rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. This would ease the burden on Moses and enable the work to be handled more quickly. Some think that Jethro’s counsel was divinely given, that it urged a sensible delegation of authority to others. Others remind us, however, that God never assigns tasks without giving grace for them. Up to this time God had been speaking to Moses as a man speaks with a friend, and had not been using a go-between. Therefore Moses should have carried on until God Himself made other arrangements.
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