Jethro Visits Moses
1 Jethro was the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. He heard what the Lord God had done for Moses and his people, after rescuing them from Egypt.
2-4 In the meantime, Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and her two sons to stay with Jethro, and he had welcomed them. Moses was still a foreigner in Midian when his first son was born, and so Moses said, “I'll name him Gershom.”
When his second son was born, Moses said, “I'll name him Eliezer, because the God my father worshiped has saved me from the king of Egypt.”
5-6 While Israel was camped in the desert near Mount Sinai, Jethro sent Moses this message: “I am coming to visit you, and I am bringing your wife and two sons.”
7 When they arrived, Moses went out and bowed down in front of Jethro, then kissed him. After they had greeted each other, they went into the tent, 8 where Moses told him everything the Lord had done to protect Israel against the Egyptians and their king. He also told him how the Lord had helped them in all of their troubles.
9 Jethro was so pleased to hear this good news about what the Lord had done, 10 that he shouted, “Praise the Lord! He rescued you and the Israelites from the Egyptians and their king. 11 Now I know that the Lord is the greatest God, because he has rescued Israel from their arrogant enemies.” 12 Jethro offered sacrifices to God. Then Aaron and Israel's leaders came to eat with Jethro there at the place of worship.
Judges Are Appointed
(Deuteronomy 1.9-18)13 The next morning Moses sat down at the place where he decided legal cases for the people, and everyone crowded around him until evening. 14 Jethro saw how much Moses had to do for the people, and he asked, “Why are you the only judge? Why do you let these people crowd around you from morning till evening?”
15 Moses answered, “Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do. 16 They bring their complaints to me, and I make decisions on the basis of God's laws.”
17 Jethro replied:
That isn't the best way to do it. 18 You and the people who come to you will soon be worn out. The job is too much for one person; you can't do it alone. 19 God will help you if you follow my advice. You should be the one to speak to God for the people, 20 and you should teach them God's laws and show them what they must do to live right.
21 You will need to appoint some competent leaders who respect God and are trustworthy and honest. Then put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 22 These judges can handle the ordinary cases and bring the more difficult ones to you. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. 23 This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress, and everyone else will return home feeling satisfied.
24 Moses followed Jethro's advice. 25 He chose some competent leaders from every tribe in Israel and put them over groups of 10, 50, 100, and 1,000. 26 They served as judges, deciding the easy cases themselves, but bringing the more difficult ones to Moses.
27 After Moses and his father-in-law Jethro had said goodbye to each other, Jethro returned home.
Jetrus padoms Mozum
(5Moz 1:9–18)1 Jetrus, Midjāna priesteris, Mozus sievastēvs, padzirdēja visu, ko Dievs bija darījis Mozum un Israēlam, savai tautai, – ka Kungs izvedis Israēlu no Ēģiptes. 2 Jetrus, Mozus sievastēvs, bija pieņēmis Mozus sievu Ciporu, ko tas bija atlaidis, 3 kā arī abus viņas dēlus, no kuriem vienam vārds bija Gēršoms, jo viņš bija teicis: es biju piedzīvotājs svešā zemē, – 4 bet otra vārds bija Elīezers, jo: mana tēva Dievs bija mans glābējs un izglāba mani no faraona zobena. 5 Un nāca Jetrus, Mozus sievastēvs, un viņa dēli un sieva pie Mozus uz tuksnesi, kur viņš bija apmeties pie Dieva kalna. 6 Un viņš Mozum paziņoja: “Es, tavs sievastēvs Jetrus, nāku pie tevis kopā ar tavu sievu un abiem viņas dēliem!” 7 Tad Mozus izgāja pretī savam sievastēvam, klanījās un skūpstīja viņu, un viņi jautāja viens otram, vai labi klājas, un tad viņi gāja teltī. 8 Mozus pastāstīja savam sievastēvam visu, ko Kungs bija darījis faraonam un ēģiptiešiem Israēla dēļ – arī par visām grūtībām, kas pār tiem bija nākušas ceļā, un kā Kungs viņus izglābis. 9 Jetrus līksmoja par visu labo, ko Kungs bija darījis Israēlam – izglābis no ēģiptiešu rokas! 10 Un Jetrus teica: “Slavēts Kungs, kas jūs ir izglābis no ēģiptiešiem un faraona un tautu – no ēģiptiešu rokas! 11 Tagad es zinu, ka Kungs ir lielāks par visiem citiem dieviem – tie tikai lielījās, bet viņš bija lielāks!” 12 Un Jetrus, Mozus sievastēvs, nesa Dievam sadedzināmo upuri un citus upurus, un Ārons un visi Israēla vecajie nāca, lai Dieva priekšā ēstu maizi kopā ar Mozus sievastēvu.
13 No rīta Mozus sēdās tiesāt tautu, un tauta stāvēja Mozus priekšā no rīta līdz vakaram. 14 Un Mozus sievastēvs noskatījās, ko viņš darīja tautai, un teica: “Kas tas ir, ko tu dari tautai? Kāpēc tu sēdi viens pats, bet visa tauta stāv tavā priekšā no rīta līdz vakaram?!” 15 Mozus teica savam sievastēvam: “Šie ļaudis ir nākuši pie manis, lai izjautātu Dievu! 16 Kad tiem ir kāda lieta, tie nāk pie manis, un es spriežu tiesu starp tiem un daru tiem zināmus Dieva likumus un bauslību!” 17 Bet Mozus sievastēvs teica viņam: “Tā nav labi, kā tu dari! 18 Tu ļoti nogursti – gan tu, gan tavi ļaudis, par smagu tev ir šī lieta, tu nevari darīt to viens pats! 19 Tagad uzklausi mani, es došu tev padomu, un Dievs būs ar tevi. Esi tu pats šai tautai priekšstāvis pie Dieva un liec tu viņu lietas Dieva priekšā! 20 Atgādini viņiem likumus un bauslību un dari tiem zināmu ceļu, pa kuru tiem iet, un darbus, kas tiem darāmi. 21 Izraugies no tautas labākos vīrus, kuri bīstas Dieva, patiesīgus vīrus, kuri nīst mantrausību, un iecel viņus pār tautu – virsniekus pār tūkstošiem, pār simtiem, pār piecdesmit un pār desmit! 22 Lai viņi tiesā tautu visu laiku, lai ir tā – katru lielāku lietu lai viņi ceļ tev priekšā, bet katru mazāku lietu lai iztiesā paši. Tev būs vieglāk, ja viņi darīs to kopā ar tevi. 23 Ja tu šādi rīkosies un Dievs tev ko pavēlēs, tad tu varēsi to izpildīt un arī visa tauta ies savās gaitās ar mieru!” 24 Mozus paklausīja savam sievastēvam un darīja visu, ko viņš teica. 25 Mozus izvēlējās labākos vīrus no visa Israēla un iecēla tos par vadītājiem tautai – tie bija virsnieki pār tūkstošiem, pār simtiem, pār piecdesmit un pār desmit. 26 Tie tiesāja tautu visu laiku – grūtākās lietas tie cēla priekšā Mozum, bet vieglākās lietas iztiesāja paši. 27 Tad Mozus atlaida savu sievastēvu, un viņš devās atpakaļ uz savu zemi.
