A Visit From Jethro

(Exodus 18:1 - 18:27)

Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of all that had Jehovah had done for Moses and his people and how he had led the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt.  He, therefore, set out to visit Moses in the desert where he was camped at the foot of the holy mountain.  He was accompanied by Moses' wife, Sephora, whom Moses had sent back to him, and their two sons Gershom (named such because Moses said, "I have been an immigrant in a foreign land") and Eliezer (named such because Moses said, “The god of my father gave me aid and spared me from the Pharaoh’s sword”).  Jethro sent ahead this message to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to visit you.  With me is your wife and two sons."

When he arrived, Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed before him, and kissed him.  They exchanged greetings and salutations and went into the tent together to converse.  Moses related to his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done to the Pharaoh and the Egyptians in aid of the Israelites, the troubles, trials, and tribulations that had befallen them on the way and how Jehovah had rescued them. 

Jethro rejoiced for all the good services Jehovah had rendered to the Israelites in liberating them from the oppression of the Egyptians.  He declared, "Blessed is Jehovah, who has delivered you from the domination of the Egyptians and their Pharaoh and so freed the people of Israel from their bondage in Egypt.  I now know well that Jehovah is greater than all the other gods, for he has triumphed over them, having wrought these afflictions upon those who treated his people so arrogantly.”

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, proffered a burnt offering and other sacrifices to Jehovah.  Aaron, along with all the elders of Israel, came and joined Jethro in a meal, there at the place of sacrifice.

The next day, Moses sat in judgment of his people, who attended upon him from dawn to dusk.  When his father-in-law witnessed how he administered justice, he told him, “What is it that you’re accomplishing here?  Why do you hold court by yourself and make the people wait all day to see you?"

Moses answered, "The people come to me to learn the will of their god. When there’s a dispute, they come to me to resolve it.  I inform them of Jehovah’s teachings and his laws."

But Moses' father-in-law argued, "This is not an effective means of doing it, for you're wearing yourself out -- and the people as well.  This is too great a burden for you to bear all by yourself.  Now listen to me and I will give you some sound advice that Jehovah will approve of.  --- You should continue to enlighten the people on matters of the divine, to be an intermediary between your people and their god, to instruct them in the proper religious ceremonies and manner of worship, and to teach them how to behave and how to conduct their lives.  But choose some able men, those who revere God and respect the truth, honest men who are above taking bribes, and make them leaders over divisions of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens of people.  Let them function as magistrates.  All important matters they will bring before you, but routine matters they will take care of themselves.  This will be easier on you, for they will be able to share your burden.  If you would do this, provided Jehovah approves of it, you will be better able to handle the demands of being your people’s judge and more likely to send your people home satisfied with your rulings.”

Moses heeded his father-in-law's counsel and did all that was suggested to him.  He chose competent men from among the people of Israel and made them administrators of divisions of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens of people.  These officials settled any disputes that arose among the people.  Important cases were referred to Moses to rule upon, while they handled all the simpler matters.

Moses allowed his father-in-law to depart, and he returned to his own country.

Notes
1.  Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, visits Moses, to bring to him his wife and children, to see how he's doing, and to give him counsel.  The situation and the relationship that Moses has with his wife's father does not at all make sense if Moses was really 80 years old, as Exodus claims.  The children are not adults yet, the wife is not an old woman, and the father-in-law is a wise elder who is able to advise the younger man, Moses. 

2.  Jethro, apprised of the Hebrew travails and triumphs, is able to rejoice with Moses how their mighty god Jehovah had made the lives of the Egyptian people miserable, how he murdered many millions of them, devastated their land, crops and livestock, how he all but destroyed the greatest nation of the ancient world and made the Egyptian gods look like chumps. (Jehovah really showed them!)

3.  Nothing is mentioned concerning Moses' reunion with his wife, or his children, who, at some point, must have been sent away to live with Jethro's people.  They are not included in the celebratory feast Jethro has with Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel.  Although he makes a fuss over his father-in-law, Moses is not recorded as being glad to see his wife and sons.  (He is apparently not the family man Jacob was.)

4.  Jethro realizes the power of Jehovah and how he is better and stronger than any of the foreign gods around.  Again, we are reminded that the Hebrews in no way thought that Jehovah, their god, was the only god -- nor could he be God, the universal deity and creator.

5.  Moses learns from his father-in-law two important qualities necessary for effective leadership, firstly, being willing to take advice from those older and wiser, and secondly, not insisting on doing everything one's self, but  being willing to delegate authority.  Moses, to his credit, learns and adapts.

6.  Here we see the beginning of organized justice and the formation of a ruling bureaucracy, institutions characteristic of and necessary for the establishment of a nation.  Israel is ceasing to be a mere tribe, and is becoming a nation.