Study Desk

Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian,^(a) heard about everything that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.

Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken in Zipporah,^(b) Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

along with her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (because Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land")^[a](c)

and the other Eliezer (because he had said, "The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword").^[b]

Moses' father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses' wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God.^(d)

He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."

So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down,^(e) and then kissed him. They asked each other how they had been^[c] and went into the tent.

Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that confronted them on the way, and how the Lord delivered them.^(f)

Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when He rescued them from the power of the Egyptians.

"Praise the Lord ,"^(g) Jethro exclaimed, "who rescued you from Pharaoh and the power of the Egyptians and snatched the people from the power of the Egyptians.

Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods, because He did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel."^[d](h)

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

The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening.

When Moses' father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, "What is this thing you're doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"

Moses replied to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God's statutes and laws."⁽ⁱ⁾

"What you're doing is not good," Moses' father-in-law said to him.

"You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone.^(j)

Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him.

Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.^(k)

But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes.^(l) Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.^(m)

They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load,^[e] and they will bear it with you.⁽ⁿ⁾

If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied."^[f]

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.

Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land.^(o)

In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai.

After they departed from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.^(a)

Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called^(b) to him from the mountain: "This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites:

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me.^(c)

Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant,^(d) you will be My own possession^(e) out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine,

and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.'^(f) These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites."

After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.

Then all the people responded together, "We will do all that the Lord has spoken."^(g) So Moses brought the people's words back to the Lord .

The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,^(h) so that the people will hear when I speak⁽ⁱ⁾ with you and will always believe you." Then Moses reported the people's words to the Lord .

And the Lord told Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes^(j)

and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.^(k)

Put boundaries for the people all around the mountain and say: Be careful that you don't go up on the mountain or touch its base. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death.^(l)

No hand may touch him; instead he will be stoned or shot with arrows. No animal or man will live. When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they may go up the mountain."

Then Moses came down from the mountain to the people and consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

He said to the people, "Be prepared by the third day. Do not have sexual relations with women."

On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a loud trumpet sound, so that all the people in the camp shuddered.

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire.^(m) Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace,⁽ⁿ⁾ and the whole mountain shook violently.^(o)

As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.^(p)

The Lord came down on Mount Sinai at the top of the mountain. Then the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.

The Lord directed Moses, "Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the Lord ; otherwise many of them will die.^(q)

Even the priests who come near the Lord must purify themselves or the Lord will break out in anger against them."^(r)

But Moses responded to the Lord , "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, since You warned us: Put a boundary around the mountain and consider it holy."

And the Lord replied to him, "Go down and come back with Aaron. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the Lord , or He will break out in anger against them."

So Moses went down to the people and told them.