Exodus

Chapter 18

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֞ yiter֨o kohe֤n mideyan֙ chote֣n moshshe֔h 'et֩ kּal-'ashshe֨r 'ashsa֤h 'elohiym֙ lemoshshe֔h uleyishsera'e֖l 'amּ֑o kּiֽy-hotzi֧y yehva֛h 'et-yishsera'e֖l mimּitzeraֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses' father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqּa֗ch yitero֙ chote֣n moshshe֔h 'et-tzipּora֖h 'e֣shshet moshshe֑h 'acha֖r shshilּucheֽyha׃

Edified Edition (EDE)After Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back, his father-in-law Jethro had taken her in,

וַיִּקַּ֗ח יִתְרוֹ֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־צִפֹּרָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת מֹשֶׁ֑ה אַחַ֖ר שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'e֖t shshene֣y bane֑yha 'ashshe֨r shshe֤m haֽ'echad֙ gּeֽreshsho֔m kּi֣y 'ama֔r gּe֣r hayi֔ytiy bּe'e֖retz nakeriyּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom,

וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יהָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר גֵּ֣ר הָיִ֔יתִי בְּאֶ֖רֶץ נָכְרִיָּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veshshe֥m ha'echa֖d 'eliy'e֑zer kּiֽy-'elohe֤y 'abiy֙ bּe'ezeri֔y vayּatzּile֖niy meche֥reb pּare'oֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)and the other was named [1] (Eliezer).

וְשֵׁ֥ם הָאֶחָ֖ד אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר כִּֽי־אֱלֹהֵ֤י אָבִי֙ בְּעֶזְרִ֔י וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי מֵחֶ֥רֶב פַּרְעֹֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּabo֞ yiter֨o chote֥n moshshe֛h ubana֥yv ve'ishshetּ֖o 'el-moshshe֑h 'el-hamּidebּa֗r 'ashsher-h֛u chone֥h shsha֖m ha֥r ha'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert, where he was camped near the mountain of God.

וַיָּבֹ֞א יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה וּבָנָ֥יו וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־ה֛וּא חֹנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer֙ 'el-moshshe֔h 'ani֛y choteneka֥ yiter֖o bּa֣ 'ele֑yka ve'i֨shshetּeka֔ ushshene֥y bane֖yha 'imּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲנִ֛י חֹתֶנְךָ֥ יִתְר֖וֹ בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶ֖יהָ עִמָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּetze֨ moshshe֜h liqera֣'t choֽten֗o vayּishshetּa֨chu֙ vayּishshּaq-l֔o vayּishshe'al֥u 'iyshsh-lere'e֖hu leshshal֑om vayּabo֖'u ha'oֽhelah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked about each other's well-being and then went into the tent.

וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֨חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ אִישׁ־לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayesapּe֤r moshsheh֙ lecho֣ten֔o 'et֩ kּal-'ashshe֨r 'ashsa֤h yehvah֙ lepare'o֣h ulemitzera֔yim 'a֖l 'odo֣t yishsera'e֑l 'e֤t kּal-hatּela'ah֙ 'ashshe֣r metza'a֣tam bּadּe֔reke vayּatzּile֖m yehvaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, about all the hardships they had faced along the way, and how the LORD had saved them.

וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְפַרְעֹ֣ה וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֤ת כָּל־הַתְּלָאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְצָאָ֣תַם בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם יְהוָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּi֣chadּe yiter֔o 'a֚l kּal-hatּoba֔h 'ashsher-'ashsa֥h yehva֖h leyishsera'e֑l 'ashshe֥r hitzּiyl֖o miyּa֥d mitzeraֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the power of the Egyptians.

וַיִּ֣חַדְּ יִתְר֔וֹ עַ֚ל כָּל־הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצִּיל֖וֹ מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֮ yitero֒ bּar֣uke yehva֔h 'ashshe֨r hitzּi֥yl 'eteke֛m miyּa֥d mitzera֖yim umiyּa֣d pּare'o֑h 'ashshe֤r hitzּiyl֙ 'et-ha'a֔m mitּa֖chat yad-mitzeraֽyim׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the power of the Egyptians."

וַיֹּאמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): atּa֣h yada֔'etּiy kּiֽy-gad֥ol yehva֖h mikּal-ha'elohi֑ym kּi֣y badּaba֔r 'ashshe֥r zad֖u 'aleyheֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because He did this to those who treated Israel arrogantly."

עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־גָד֥וֹל יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּל־הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqּa֞ch yiter֨o chote֥n moshshe֛h 'ola֥h uzebachi֖ym leֽ'lohi֑ym vayּabo֨ 'aharo֜n veko֣l ׀ ziqene֣y yishsera'e֗l le'ekal-le֛chem 'im-chote֥n moshshe֖h lipene֥y ha'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

וַיִּקַּ֞ח יִתְר֨וֹ חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֛ה עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכָל־לֶ֛חֶם עִם־חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehiy֙ miֽmּachora֔t vayּe֥shsheb moshshe֖h lishshepּo֣t 'et-ha'a֑m vayּa'amo֤d ha'am֙ 'al-moshshe֔h min-habּo֖qer 'ad-ha'aֽreb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The next day, Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

וַיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב מֹשֶׁ֖ה לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִן־הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּare'֙ chote֣n moshshe֔h 'e֛t kּal-'ashsher-h֥u 'oshse֖h la'a֑m vayּo֗'mer maֽh-hadּaba֤r hazּeh֙ 'ashshe֨r 'atּa֤h 'oshseh֙ la'a֔m madּ֗u'a 'atּa֤h yoshsheb֙ lebadּe֔ka vekal-ha'a֛m nitzּa֥b 'ale֖yka min-bּo֥qer 'ad-'aֽreb׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When his father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit here alone as a judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"

וַיַּרְא֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֤ה עֹשֶׂה֙ לָעָ֔ם מַדּ֗וּעַ אַתָּ֤ה יוֹשֵׁב֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְכָל־הָעָ֛ם נִצָּ֥ב עָלֶ֖יךָ מִן־בֹּ֥קֶר עַד־עָֽרֶב׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֥'mer moshshe֖h lechoten֑o kּiֽy-yabo֥ 'ela֛y ha'a֖m lidero֥shsh 'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will."

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י הָעָ֖ם לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-yiheye֨h lahe֤m dּabar֙ bּa֣ 'ela֔y veshsha֣patetּi֔y bּe֥yn 'i֖yshsh ube֣yn re'e֑hu vehoda'etּi֛y 'et-chuqּe֥y ha'elohi֖ym ve'et-tּorotaֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws."

כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־חֻקֵּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶת־תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֛'mer chote֥n moshshe֖h 'ela֑yv lo'-tob֙ hadּaba֔r 'ashshe֥r 'atּa֖h 'oshseֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good."

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר חֹתֵ֥ן מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו לֹא־טוֹב֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): nabo֣l tּibּo֔l gּam-'atּa֕h gּam-ha'a֥m hazּe֖h 'ashshe֣r 'imּa֑ke kּiֽy-kabe֤d mimּeka֙ hadּaba֔r lo'-tuka֥l 'ashso֖hu lebadּeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone."

נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל גַּם־אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ הַדָּבָ֔ר לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): atּa֞h shshema֤ bּeqoliy֙ 'iy'a֣tzeka֔ viyhi֥y 'elohi֖ym 'imּa֑ke heye֧h 'atּa֣h la'a֗m m֚ul haֽ'elohi֔ym vehebe'ta֥ 'atּa֛h 'et-hadּebari֖ym 'el-ha'elohiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to Him."

עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ וִיהִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּ֑ךְ הֱיֵ֧ה אַתָּ֣ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehizeharetּa֣h 'etehe֔m 'et-hachuqּi֖ym ve'et-hatּoro֑t vehoda'etּa֣ lahe֗m 'et-hadּe֨reke֙ ye֣leku ba֔hּ ve'et-haֽmּa'ashse֖h 'ashshe֥r ya'ashsֽun׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Teach them His decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave."

וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּa֣h techeze֣h mikּal-ha֠'am 'aneshshey-cha֜yil yire'e֧y 'elohi֛ym 'aneshshe֥y 'eme֖t shso֣ne'ey ba֑tza veshsametּa֣ 'alehe֗m shsare֤y 'alapiym֙ shsare֣y me'֔ot shsare֥y chamishshּi֖ym veshsare֥y 'ashsaroֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"But select [2] (capable men) from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens."

וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכָּל־הָ֠עָם אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veshshapet֣u 'et-ha'am֮ bּekal-'et֒ vehaya֞h kּal-hadּaba֤r hagּadol֙ yabi֣y'u 'ele֔yka vekal-hadּaba֥r haqּato֖n yishshepּetu-he֑m vehaqel֙ meֽ'ale֔yka venashse'֖u 'itּaֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you."

וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־הָעָם֮ בְּכָל־עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כָּל־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכָל־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): i֣m 'et-hadּaba֤r hazּeh֙ tּa'ashse֔h vetziueka֣ 'elohi֔ym veyaֽkaletּa֖ 'amo֑d vegam֙ kּal-ha'a֣m hazּe֔h 'al-meqom֖o yabo֥ beshshalֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"If you do this, and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

אִ֣ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְצִוְּךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ עֲמֹ֑ד וְגַם֙ כָּל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־מְקֹמ֖וֹ יָבֹ֥א בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֥ moshshe֖h leq֣ol choten֑o vayּa֕'ashs kּo֖l 'ashshe֥r 'amaֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְק֣וֹל חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמָֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּibecha֨r moshshe֤h 'aneshshey-cha֨yil֙ mikּal-yishsera'e֔l vayּitּe֥n 'ota֛m ra'shshi֖ym 'al-ha'a֑m shsare֤y 'alapiym֙ shsare֣y me'֔ot shsare֥y chamishshּi֖ym veshsare֥y 'ashsaroֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

וַיִּבְחַ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֨יִל֙ מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veshshapet֥u 'et-ha'a֖m bּekal-'e֑t 'et-hadּaba֤r haqּashsheh֙ yebiy'֣un 'el-moshshe֔h vekal-hadּaba֥r haqּato֖n yishshepּut֥u heֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת אֶת־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַקָּשֶׁה֙ יְבִיא֣וּן אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayeshshalּa֥ch moshshe֖h 'et-choten֑o vayּe֥leke l֖o 'el-'aretzֽo׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ ל֖וֹ אֶל־אַרְצֽוֹ׃פ