Ex
18:12-27
12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt
offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all
the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in
law before God.
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to
judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the
morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' 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?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the
people come unto me to inquire of God:
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 God, and his laws.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing
that thou doest is not good.
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.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel,
and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to
Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
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.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people
able men, such as fear God, 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:
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.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so,
then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people
shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law,
and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made
them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers
of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard
causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter
they judged themselves.
