The Visit of Jethro

1  וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע (And heard) יִתְר֨וֹ (Jethro) כֹהֵ֤ן (priest) מִדְיָן֙ (of Midian), חֹתֵ֣ן (father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (of Moses), אֵת֩ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָשָׂ֤ה (had done) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה (for Moses) וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (and for Israel) עַמּ֑וֹ (His people) כִּֽי־ (that) הוֹצִ֧יא (had brought out) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (from Egypt).

2  וַיִּקַּ֗ח (And took) יִתְרוֹ֙ (Jethro), חֹתֵ֣ן (father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (of Moses), אֶת־ (-) צִפֹּרָ֖ה (Zipporah) אֵ֣שֶׁת (wife) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (of Moses), אַחַ֖ר (after) שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃ (he had sent her back), 3  וְאֵ֖ת (and) שְׁנֵ֣י (her two) בָנֶ֑יהָ (sons), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (of whom) שֵׁ֤ם (name) הָֽאֶחָד֙ (of the one) גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם (was Gershom), כִּ֣י (for) אָמַ֔ר (he said), גֵּ֣ר (A sojourner) הָיִ֔יתִי (I have been) בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in a land) נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ (foreign). 4  וְשֵׁ֥ם (And the name) הָאֶחָ֖ד (of the one) אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר (was Eliezer), כִּֽי־ (for), אֱלֹהֵ֤י (The God) אָבִי֙ (of my father) בְּעֶזְרִ֔י (was my help) וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי (and He delivered me) מֵחֶ֥רֶב (from the sword) פַּרְעֹֽה׃ (of Pharaoh).

5  וַיָּבֹ֞א (And came) יִתְר֨וֹ (Jethro) חֹתֵ֥ן (father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (of Moses) וּבָנָ֥יו (and his sons) וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (and his wife) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses) אֶל־ (to) הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר (the wilderness), אֲשֶׁר־ (where) ה֛וּא (he) חֹנֶ֥ה (was camping) שָׁ֖ם (-) הַ֥ר (at the mountain) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God). 6  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he had said) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), אֲנִ֛י (I), חֹתֶנְךָ֥ (your father-in-law) יִתְר֖וֹ (Jethro), בָּ֣א (am coming) אֵלֶ֑יךָ (to you), וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ (and your wife) וּשְׁנֵ֥י (and two) בָנֶ֖יהָ (her sons) עִמָּֽהּ׃ (with her).

7  וַיֵּצֵ֨א (And went out) מֹשֶׁ֜ה (Moses) לִקְרַ֣את (to meet) חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ (his father-in-law), וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ (and he bowed himself) וַיִּשַּׁק־ (and kissed) ל֔וֹ (him), וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ (and they asked) אִישׁ־ (each man) לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ (to his neighbor) לְשָׁל֑וֹם (of their welfare); וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they went into) הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ (the tent). 8  וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר (And recounted) מֹשֶׁה֙ (Moses) לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ (to his father-in-law) אֵת֩ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָשָׂ֤ה (had done) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לְפַרְעֹ֣ה (to Pharaoh) וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם (and to Egypt), עַ֖ל (for) אוֹדֹ֣ת (the sake) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) אֵ֤ת (-), כָּל־ (all) הַתְּלָאָה֙ (the hardship) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) מְצָאָ֣תַם (had found them) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the way), וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם (and how had delivered them) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

9  וַיִּ֣חַדְּ (And rejoiced) יִתְר֔וֹ (Jethro) עַ֚ל (over) כָּל־ (all) הַטּוֹבָ֔ה (the good) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֥ה (had done) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (for Israel), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הִצִּיל֖וֹ (He had delivered them) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 10  וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (And said) יִתְרוֹ֒ (Jethro), בָּר֣וּךְ (Blessed be) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) הִצִּ֥יל (delivered) אֶתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) מִצְרַ֖יִם (of Egypt) וּמִיַּ֣ד (and from the hand) פַּרְעֹ֑ה (of Pharaoh), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) הִצִּיל֙ (delivered) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֔ם (the people) מִתַּ֖חַת (from under) יַד־ (the hand) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 11  עַתָּ֣ה (Now) יָדַ֔עְתִּי (I know) כִּֽי־ (that) גָד֥וֹל (is greater) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מִכָּל־ (than all) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (the gods); כִּ֣י (for) בַדָּבָ֔ר (in the matter) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (in which) זָד֖וּ (they acted proudly) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (He was above them).

12  וַיִּקַּ֞ח (And took) יִתְר֨וֹ (Jethro), חֹתֵ֥ן (father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (of Moses), עֹלָ֥ה (a burnt offering) וּזְבָחִ֖ים (and sacrifices) לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים (to God); וַיָּבֹ֨א (and came) אַהֲרֹ֜ן (Aaron) וְכֹ֣ל׀ (and all) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) לֶאֱכָל־ (to eat) לֶ֛חֶם (bread) עִם־ (with) חֹתֵ֥ן (the father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (of Moses) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God).

Jethro Advises Moses
(Deuteronomy 1:9–18)

13  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת (on the next day) וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (that sat) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט (to judge) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֑ם (the people), וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד (and stood) הָעָם֙ (the people) עַל־ (before) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses) מִן־ (from) הַבֹּ֖קֶר (the morning) עַד־ (until) הָעָֽרֶב׃ (the evening). 14  וַיַּרְא֙ (And saw) חֹתֵ֣ן (the father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (of Moses) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) ה֥וּא (he) עֹשֶׂ֖ה (was doing) לָעָ֑ם (to the people), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), מָֽה־ (What is) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the thing) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) אַתָּ֤ה (you) עֹשֶׂה֙ (are doing) לָעָ֔ם (to the people)? מַדּ֗וּעַ (Why) אַתָּ֤ה (you) יוֹשֵׁב֙ (do sit) לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ (by yourself) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֛ם (the people) נִצָּ֥ב (stand) עָלֶ֖יךָ (before you) מִן־ (from) בֹּ֥קֶר (morning) עַד־ (until) עָֽרֶב׃ (evening)?

15  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ (to his father-in-law), כִּֽי־ (Because) יָבֹ֥א (come) אֵלַ֛י (to me) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לִדְרֹ֥שׁ (to inquire) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God). 16  כִּֽי־ (When) יִהְיֶ֨ה (have) לָהֶ֤ם (they) דָּבָר֙ (a matter), בָּ֣א (they come) אֵלַ֔י (to me), וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י (and I judge) בֵּ֥ין (between) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) רֵעֵ֑הוּ (his neighbor), וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י (and I make known) אֶת־ (-) חֻקֵּ֥י (the statutes) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) וְאֶת־ (and) תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃ (His laws).

17  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And said) חֹתֵ֥ן (the father-in-law) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (of Moses) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), לֹא־ (Not) טוֹב֙ (is good) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the thing) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אַתָּ֖ה (you) עֹשֶֽׂה׃ (are doing). 18  נָבֹ֣ל (Wearing away) תִּבֹּ֔ל (you will wear out), גַּם־ (both) אַתָּ֕ה (you) גַּם־ (and) הָעָ֥ם (the people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who are) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you); כִּֽי־ (for) כָבֵ֤ד (too heavy) מִמְּךָ֙ (for you) הַדָּבָ֔ר (is this thing). לֹא־ (Not) תוּכַ֥ל (you are able) עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ (to do it) לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ (by yourself).

19  עַתָּ֞ה (Now) שְׁמַ֤ע (listen) בְּקֹלִי֙ (to my voice); אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ (I will counsel you), וִיהִ֥י (and will be) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you). הֱיֵ֧ה (Must be) אַתָּ֣ה (you) לָעָ֗ם (for the people) מ֚וּל (before) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ (and you shall bring) אַתָּ֛ה (you) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the matters) אֶל־ (to) הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God). 20  וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה (And you shall warn) אֶתְהֶ֔ם (them) אֶת־ (-) הַחֻקִּ֖ים (of the statutes) וְאֶת־ (and) הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת (of the laws), וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ (and you shall make known) לָהֶ֗ם (to them) אֶת־ (-) הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the way) יֵ֣לְכוּ (they shall walk) בָ֔הּ (in) וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (the work) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ (they shall do).

21  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) תֶחֱזֶ֣ה (you shall see) מִכָּל־ (from all) הָ֠עָם (the people) אַנְשֵׁי־ (men) חַ֜יִל (of valor), יִרְאֵ֧י (fearers) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (of God)— אַנְשֵׁ֥י (men) אֱמֶ֖ת (of truth), שֹׂ֣נְאֵי (haters) בָ֑צַע (of dishonest gain)— וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ (and you shall appoint these) עֲלֵהֶ֗ם (over them) שָׂרֵ֤י (as rulers) אֲלָפִים֙ (of thousands), שָׂרֵ֣י (rulers) מֵא֔וֹת (of hundreds), שָׂרֵ֥י (rulers) חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (of fifties), וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and rulers) עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ (of tens).

22  וְשָׁפְט֣וּ (And they shall judge) אֶת־ (-) הָעָם֮ (the people) בְּכָל־ (at all) עֵת֒ (times). וְהָיָ֞ה (And it will be) כָּל־ (that every) הַדָּבָ֤ר (matter) הַגָּדֹל֙ (great) יָבִ֣יאוּ (they shall bring) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you), וְכָל־ (and every) הַדָּבָ֥ר (matter) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (small) יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ (they shall judge) הֵ֑ם (themselves). וְהָקֵל֙ (And it will be lightened) מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ (from you), וְנָשְׂא֖וּ (and they will bear up) אִתָּֽךְ׃ (with you).

23  אִ֣ם (If) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the thing) הַזֶּה֙ (this) תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (you do), וְצִוְּךָ֣ (and commands you) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ (then you will be able) עֲמֹ֑ד (to endure), וְגַם֙ (and also) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) עַל־ (to) מְקֹמ֖וֹ (its place) יָבֹ֥א (will go) בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (in peace).

24  וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע (And listened) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לְק֣וֹל (to the voice) חֹתְנ֑וֹ (of his father-in-law), וַיַּ֕עַשׂ (and he did) כֹּ֖ל (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אָמָֽר׃ (he had said). 25  וַיִּבְחַ֨ר (And chose) מֹשֶׁ֤ה (Moses) אַנְשֵׁי־ (men) חַ֙יִל֙ (of valor) מִכָּל־ (out of all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (and he appointed) אֹתָ֛ם (them) רָאשִׁ֖ים (heads) עַל־ (over) הָעָ֑ם (the people), שָׂרֵ֤י (rulers) אֲלָפִים֙ (of thousands), שָׂרֵ֣י (rulers) מֵא֔וֹת (of hundreds), שָׂרֵ֥י (rulers) חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (of fifties), וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and rulers) עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ (of tens). 26  וְשָׁפְט֥וּ (And they judged) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) בְּכָל־ (at all) עֵ֑ת (times); אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the matter) הַקָּשֶׁה֙ (the hard) יְבִיא֣וּן (they would bring) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses), וְכָל־ (and every) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the matter) הַקָּטֹ֖ן (the small) יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ (they would judge) הֵֽם׃ (themselves).

27  וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח (And sent away) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) אֶת־ (-) חֹתְנ֑וֹ (his father-in-law), וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and he went) ל֖וֹ (on his way) אֶל־ (to) אַרְצֽוֹ׃פ (his land).