You Will Wear Away

Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard all that God had done for Israel. He came with Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to the mountain of God. Moses told him everything Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and how Yahweh had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced and said, Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you. He added, Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods. He offered sacrifices, and Aaron and the elders ate with him before God.

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning to evening. Jethro said, The thing that you do is not good. You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you.

Jethro told Moses to represent the people before God and teach them God's laws. He should choose able men who feared God, men of truth who hated unjust gain, to lead groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They would judge the small matters and bring the great matters to Moses. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he said. Then Jethro went home.