Reader Chapter

Shamut 18

Shamut chapter 18 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

Browse Shamut chapter index
18:1

The Arrival of Yethro

When Yethro, the priest of Midian, Mushah's father in law, heard of all that Alahiym had done for Mushah, and for Yashar'al his people, and that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had brought Yashar'al out of Mitzrayim;
18:2
Then Yethro, Mushah's father in law, took Zipporah, Mushah's wife, after he had sent her back,
18:3
And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, "I have been an alien in a strange land:"
18:4
And the name of the other was Eliezer; for "The Alahiym of my father," said he, "was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:"
18:5
And Yethro, Mushah's father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Mushah into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of Alahiym:
18:6
And he said unto Mushah, "I thy father in law Yethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her."
18:7
And Mushah went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
18:8
And Mushah told his father in law all that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had done unto Pharaoh and to the Mitzrites for Yashar'al's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 delivered them.
18:9
And Yethro rejoiced for all the goodness which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had done to Yashar'al, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Mitzrites.
18:10
And Yethro said, "Blessed be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Mitzrites, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Mitzrites."
18:11
"Now I know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is greater than all lo alahiym: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them."
18:12
And Yethro, Mushah's father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for Alahiym: and Aharon came, and all the elders of Yashar'al, to eat bread with Mushah's father in law before Alahiym.
18:13

The Delegation of Authority

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Mushah sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Mushah from the morning unto the evening.
18:14
And when Mushah's father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?"
18:15
And Mushah said unto his father in law, "Because the people come unto me to enquire of Alahiym:"
18:16
"When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of Alahiym, and his laws."
18:17
And Mushah's father in law said unto him, "The thing that thou doest is not good."
18:18
"Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone."
18:19
"Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and Alahiym shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Alahiym-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto Alahiym:"
18:20
"And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do."
18:21

The Kingdom Structure

"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear Alahiym, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:"
18:22
"And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee."
18:23
"If thou shalt do this thing, and Alahiym command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace."
18:24
So Mushah hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
18:25
And Mushah chose able men out of all Yashar'al, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
18:26
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Mushah, but every small matter they judged themselves.
18:27
And Mushah let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.