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Chapter 18
The Visit of Jethro
1
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how [[YHWH|the LORD]] had brought Israel out of Egypt.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ חֹתֵ֣ן יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֱלֹהִים֙ עָשָׂ֤ה לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה עַמּ֑וֹ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כִּֽי־ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ הוֹצִ֧יא יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ mō·šeh ’êṯ ḥō·ṯên yiṯ·rōw ḵō·hên miḏ·yān way·yiš·ma‘ kāl- ’ă·šer ’ĕ·lō·hîm ‘ā·śāh lə·mō·šeh ‘am·mōw ū·lə·yiś·rā·’êl kî- Yah·weh ’eṯ- hō·w·ṣî yiś·rā·’êl mim·miṣ·rā·yim — WLC · 1
Ἤκουσεν δὲ ’1οθὸρ ὁ ἱερεὺς Μαδιὰμ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος Ἰσραὴλ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ λαῷ· ἐξήγαγεν γὰρ κύριος τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου. — LXX Swete · 1
2
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, [his] father-in-law Jethro had received her,
אַחַ֖ר מֹשֶׁ֑ה שִׁלּוּחֶֽיהָ׃ אֵ֣שֶׁת צִפֹּרָ֖ה מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־ חֹתֵ֣ן יִתְרוֹ֙ וַיִּקַּ֗ח ’a·ḥar mō·šeh šil·lū·ḥe·hā ’ê·šeṯ ṣip·pō·rāh mō·šeh ’eṯ- ḥō·ṯên yiṯ·rōw way·yiq·qaḥ — WLC · 2
ἔλαβεν δὲ Ἰοθὸρ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ Σεπφώραν τὴν γυναῖκα Μωυσῆ, μετὰ τὴν ἄφεσιν αὐτῆς, — LXX Swete · 2
3
along with her two sons. One [son] was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
וְאֵ֖ת שְׁנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יהָ הָֽאֶחָד֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר הָיִ֔יתִי גֵּ֣ר נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ בְּאֶ֖רֶץ wə·’êṯ šə·nê ḇā·ne·hā hā·’e·ḥāḏ ’ă·šer šêm gê·rə·šōm kî ’ā·mar hā·yî·ṯî gêr nā·ḵə·rî·yāh bə·’e·reṣ — WLC · 3
καὶ δύο υἱοὺς αὐτῆς· ὄνομα τῷ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν Γηρσάμ, λέγων Ηάροικος ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ· — LXX Swete · 3
4
The other [son] was named Eliezer, for [Moses had said], “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”
הָאֶחָ֖ד וְשֵׁ֥ם אֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר כִּֽי־ אֱלֹהֵ֤י אָבִי֙ בְּעֶזְרִ֔י וַיַּצִּלֵ֖נִי מֵחֶ֥רֶב פַּרְעֹֽה׃ hā·’e·ḥāḏ wə·šêm ’ĕ·lî·‘e·zer kî- ’ĕ·lō·hê ’ā·ḇî bə·‘ez·rî way·yaṣ·ṣi·lê·nî mê·ḥe·reḇ par·‘ōh — WLC · 4
καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου Ἐλιέζερ, λέγων Ὁ γὰρ θεὸς τοῦ πατρός μου βοηθός μου, καὶ ἐξείλατό με ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραώ. — LXX Swete · 4
5
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped… at the mountain of God.
חֹתֵ֥ן יִתְר֨וֹ מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וּבָנָ֥יו וַיָּבֹ֞א אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֑ה אֶל־ הַמִּדְבָּ֗ר אֲשֶׁר־ ה֛וּא חֹנֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ḥō·ṯên yiṯ·rōw mō·šeh wə·’iš·tōw ū·ḇā·nāw way·yā·ḇō ’el- mō·šeh ’el- ham·miḏ·bār ’ă·šer- hū ḥō·neh šām har hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 5
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἰοθὸρ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Μωυσῆν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, οὗ παρενέβαλεν ἐπ’ ὄρους τοῦ θεοῦ. — LXX Swete · 5
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He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲנִ֛י חֹתֶנְךָ֥ יִתְר֖וֹ בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאִ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ עִמָּֽהּ׃ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנֶ֖יהָ way·yō·mer ’el- mō·šeh ’ă·nî ḥō·ṯen·ḵā yiṯ·rōw bā ’ê·le·ḵā wə·’iš·tə·ḵā ‘im·māh ū·šə·nê ḇā·ne·hā — WLC · 6
ἀνηγγέλη δὲ Μωυσεῖ λέγοντες Ἴδου ὁ γαμβρός σου Ἰοθὸρ παραγίνεται πρὸς σέ, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ καὶ οἱ δύο υἱοί σου μετ’ αὐτοῦ. — LXX Swete · 6
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So Moses… went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted… each other and went into the tent.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את וַיֵּצֵ֨א חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אִישׁ־ לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃ mō·šeh liq·raṯ way·yê·ṣê ḥō·ṯə·nōw way·yiš·ta·ḥū way·yiš·šaq- lōw way·yiš·’ă·lū lə·šā·lō·wm ’îš- lə·rê·‘ê·hū way·yā·ḇō·’ū hā·’ō·hĕ·lāh — WLC · 7
ἐξῆλθεν δὲ Μωυσῆς εἰς συνάντησιν τῷ γαμβρῷ, καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐφίλησεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἠσπάσαντο ἀλλήλους· καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εῖς τὴν σκηνήν. — LXX Swete · 7
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Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that [[YHWH|the LORD]] had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how [[YHWH|the LORD]] had delivered them.
מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיְסַפֵּ֤ר לְחֹ֣תְנ֔וֹ אֵת֩ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהוָה֙ עָשָׂ֤ה לְפַרְעֹ֣ה וּלְמִצְרַ֔יִם עַ֖ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֤ת אוֹדֹ֣ת כָּל־ הַתְּלָאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מְצָאָ֣תַם בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ יְהוָֽה׃ וַיַּצִּלֵ֖ם mō·šeh way·sap·pêr lə·ḥō·ṯə·nōw ’êṯ kāl- ’ă·šer Yah·weh ‘ā·śāh lə·p̄ar·‘ōh ū·lə·miṣ·ra·yim ‘al yiś·rā·’êl ’êṯ ’ō·w·ḏōṯ kāl- hat·tə·lā·’āh ’ă·šer mə·ṣā·’ā·ṯam bad·de·reḵ Yah·weh way·yaṣ·ṣi·lêm — WLC · 8
καὶ διηγήσατο Μωσῆς τῷ γαμβρῷ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν κύριος τῷ Φαραὼ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις ἕνεκεν τοῦ καὶ πάντα τὸν μόχθον τὸν γενόμενον αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ὅτι ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς κύριος ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραὼ καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων. — LXX Swete · 8
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And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things [[YHWH|the LORD]] had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
יִתְר֔וֹ וַיִּ֣חַדְּ עַ֚ל כָּל־ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ יְהוָ֖ה עָשָׂ֥ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצִּיל֖וֹ מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרָֽיִם׃ yiṯ·rōw way·yi·ḥad ‘al kāl- haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh ’ă·šer- Yah·weh ‘ā·śāh lə·yiś·rā·’êl ’ă·šer hiṣ·ṣî·lōw mî·yaḏ miṣ·rā·yim — WLC · 9
ἐξέστη δὲ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς οἷς ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς κύριος, ὅτι ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραώ. — LXX Swete · 9
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Jethro declared, “Blessed [be] [[YHWH|the LORD]], who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
יִתְרוֹ֒ וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ yiṯ·rōw way·yō·mer bā·rūḵ Yah·weh ’ă·šer hiṣ·ṣîl ’eṯ·ḵem mî·yaḏ miṣ·ra·yim ū·mî·yaḏ par·‘ōh ’ă·šer hiṣ·ṣîl ’eṯ- hā·‘ām mit·ta·ḥaṯ yaḏ- miṣ·rā·yim — WLC · 10
καὶ εἶπεν Ιοθόρ Εὐλογητὸς Κύριος, ὅτι ἐξείλατο αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγυπτίων καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραώ· — LXX Swete · 10
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Now I know that [[YHWH|the LORD]] is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance…”
עַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּֽי־ יְהוָ֖ה גָד֥וֹל מִכָּל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י בַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָד֖וּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ ‘at·tāh yā·ḏa‘·tî kî- Yah·weh ḡā·ḏō·wl mik·kāl hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm kî ḇad·dā·ḇār ’ă·šer zā·ḏū ‘ă·lê·hem — WLC · 11
νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι μέγας παρὰ παρὰ πάντας τοὺς θεούς, ἕνεκεν τούτου ὅτι ἐπέθεντο αὐτοῖς. — LXX Swete · 11
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Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
מֹשֶׁ֛ה חֹתֵ֥ן יִתְר֨וֹ וַיִּקַּ֞ח עֹלָ֥ה וּזְבָחִ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים אַהֲרֹ֜ן וַיָּבֹ֨א וְכֹ֣ל׀ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֶאֱכָל־ לֶ֛חֶם עִם־ מֹשֶׁ֖ה חֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ mō·šeh ḥō·ṯên yiṯ·rōw way·yiq·qaḥ ‘ō·lāh ū·zə·ḇā·ḥîm lê·lō·hîm ’a·hă·rōn way·yā·ḇō wə·ḵōl ziq·nê yiś·rā·’êl le·’ĕ·ḵāl- le·ḥem ‘im- mō·šeh ḥō·ṯên lip̄·nê hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 12
καὶ ἔλαβεν ’1οθὸρ ὁ γαμβρὸς Μωυσῆ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας τῷ θεῷ· παρεγένετο δὲ Ἀαρὼν καὶ πάντες οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ἰσραὴλ συνΦαγεῖν ἄρτον μετὰ τοῦ γαμβροῦ Μωυσῆ ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ. Καὶ — LXX Swete · 12
Jethro Advises Moses
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- The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood… around [him] from morning until evening.
וַיְהִי֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט אֶת־ הָעָ֑ם וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הָעָם֙ עַל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִן־ הַבֹּ֖קֶר עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃ way·hî mim·mā·ḥo·rāṯ mō·šeh way·yê·šeḇ liš·pōṭ ’eṯ- hā·‘ām way·ya·‘ă·mōḏ hā·‘ām ‘al- mō·šeh min- hab·bō·qer ‘aḏ- hā·‘ā·reḇ — WLC · 13
ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν ἐπαύριον συνεκάθισεν μυσῆς κρίνειν τὸν λαόν· παρειστήκει δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς Mcovo^fl ἀπὸ πρωίθεν ἕως δείλης. — LXX Swete · 13
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When [his] father-in-law saw all that [Moses] was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone [as judge], with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”
מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵ֛ת חֹתֵ֣ן וַיַּרְא֙ כָּל־ אֲשֶׁר־ ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָֽה־ הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַדָּבָ֤ר אַתָּ֤ה עֹשֶׂה֙ לָעָ֔ם מַדּ֗וּעַ אַתָּ֤ה יוֹשֵׁב֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְכָל־ הָעָ֛ם נִצָּ֥ב עָלֶ֖יךָ מִן־ בֹּ֥קֶר עַד־ עָֽרֶב׃ mō·šeh ’êṯ ḥō·ṯên way·yar kāl- ’ă·šer- hū ‘ō·śeh lā·‘ām way·yō·mer māh- haz·zeh ’ă·šer had·dā·ḇār ’at·tāh ‘ō·śeh lā·‘ām mad·dū·a‘ ’at·tāh yō·wō·šêḇ lə·ḇad·de·ḵā wə·ḵāl hā·‘ām niṣ·ṣāḇ ‘ā·le·ḵā min- bō·qer ‘aḏ- ‘ā·reḇ — WLC · 14
καὶ ἰδὼν Ἰοθὸρ πάντα ὅσα ποιεῖ τῷ λαῷ λέγει Ti τοῦτο ὃ σὺ ποιεῖς τῷ λαῷ; διὰ τί σὺ κάθησαι μόνος, πᾶς δὲ ὁ λαὸς παρέστηκέν σοι ἀπὸ πρωίπρωίθεν ἕως δείλης; — LXX Swete · 14
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“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied -.
כִּֽי־ הָעָ֖ם יָבֹ֥א אֵלַ֛י לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֱלֹהִֽים׃ מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לְחֹתְנ֑וֹ kî- hā·‘ām yā·ḇō ’ê·lay liḏ·rōš ’ĕ·lō·hîm mō·šeh way·yō·mer lə·ḥō·ṯə·nōw — WLC · 15
καὶ λέγει Μωυσῆς τῷ γαμβρῷ ὅτι παραγίνεται πρὸς μὲ ὁ λαὸς ἐκζητῆσαι κρίσιν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ· — LXX Swete · 15
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“Whenever they have… a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man… and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”
כִּֽי־ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם דָּבָר֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְשָׁ֣פַטְתִּ֔י בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ וּבֵ֣ין רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֛י אֶת־ חֻקֵּ֥י וְאֶת־ תּוֹרֹתָֽיו׃ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים kî- yih·yeh lā·hem dā·ḇār bā ’ê·lay wə·šā·p̄aṭ·tî bên ’îš ū·ḇên rê·‘ê·hū wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·tî ’eṯ- ḥuq·qê wə·’eṯ- tō·w·rō·ṯāw hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 16
ὅταν γὰρ γένηται αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογία καὶ ἔλθωσι πρὸς μέ, διακρίνω ἕκαστον, καὶ συμβιβάζω αὐτοὺς τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ. — LXX Swete · 16
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But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה חֹתֵ֥ן וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃ לֹא־ טוֹב֙ mō·šeh ḥō·ṯên way·yō·mer ’ê·lāw had·dā·ḇār ’ă·šer ’at·tāh ‘ō·śeh lō- ṭō·wḇ — WLC · 17
18
Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out…, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot… handle it alone.
גַּם־ אַתָּ֕ה גַּם־ הַזֶּ֖ה הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עִמָּ֑ךְ נָבֹ֣ל תִּבֹּ֔ל כִּֽי־ הַדָּבָ֔ר כָבֵ֤ד מִמְּךָ֙ לֹא־ תוּכַ֥ל עֲשֹׂ֖הוּ לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ gam- ’at·tāh gam- haz·zeh hā·‘ām ’ă·šer ‘im·māḵ nā·ḇōl tib·bōl kî- had·dā·ḇār ḵā·ḇêḏ mim·mə·ḵā lō- ṯū·ḵal ‘ă·śō·hū lə·ḇad·de·ḵā — WLC · 18
οὐκ ὀρθῶς σὺ ποιεῖς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο· φθορᾷ καταφθαρήσῃ ἀνυπομονήτῳ καὶ σὺ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὅς ἐστιν μετὰ σοῦ· βαρύ σοι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, οὐ δυνήσῃ ποιεῖν μόνος. — LXX Swete · 18
19
Now listen to me;… I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring… their causes to Him.
עַתָּ֞ה שְׁמַ֤ע בְּקֹלִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ אֱלֹהִ֖ים וִיהִ֥י עִמָּ֑ךְ אַתָּ֣ה הֱיֵ֧ה לָעָ֗ם מ֚וּל הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ אַתָּ֛ה אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ ‘at·tāh šə·ma‘ bə·qō·lî ’î·‘ā·ṣə·ḵā ’ĕ·lō·hîm wî·hî ‘im·māḵ ’at·tāh hĕ·yêh lā·‘ām mūl hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm wə·hê·ḇê·ṯā ’at·tāh ’eṯ- had·də·ḇā·rîm ’el- hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — WLC · 19
νῦν οὖν ἄκουσόν μου, καὶ συμβουλεύσω σοι, καὶ ἔσται ὁ θεὸς μετὰ σοῦ. γίνου σὺ τῷ λαῷ τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ ἀνοίσεις τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν θεόν· — LXX Swete · 19
20
Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live - and the work they must do.
וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה אֶתְהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַחֻקִּ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַתּוֹרֹ֑ת וְהוֹדַעְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֗ם אֶת־ הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־ הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֽׂוּן׃ wə·hiz·har·tāh ’eṯ·hem ’eṯ- ha·ḥuq·qîm wə·’eṯ- hat·tō·w·rōṯ wə·hō·w·ḏa‘·tā lā·hem ’eṯ- had·de·reḵ yê·lə·ḵū ḇāh wə·’eṯ- ham·ma·‘ă·śeh ’ă·šer ya·‘ă·śūn — WLC · 20
καὶ διαμαρτυρῇ αὐτοῖς τὰ προστάγματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτοῦ, καὶ σημανεῖς αὐτοῖς τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐν αἷς πορεύσονται ἐν αὐταῖς, καὶ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ποιήσουσιν. — LXX Swete · 20
21
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people— God-fearing…,… trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over [the people] as leaders of thousands,… of hundreds,… of fifties,… and of tens.
וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה חַ֜יִל אַנְשֵׁי־ מִכָּל־ הָ֠עָם יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ wə·’at·tāh ṯe·ḥĕ·zeh ḥa·yil ’an·šê- mik·kāl hā·‘ām yir·’ê ’ĕ·lō·hîm ’an·šê ’ĕ·meṯ śō·nə·’ê ḇā·ṣa‘ wə·śam·tā ‘ă·lê·hem śā·rê ’ă·lā·p̄îm śā·rê mê·’ō·wṯ śā·rê ḥă·miš·šîm wə·śā·rê ‘ă·śā·rōṯ — WLC · 21
καὶ σὺ σεαυτῷ σκέψαι ἀπὸ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ἄνδρας δυνατούς, θεοσεβεῖς, ἄνδρας δικαίους, μισοῦντας ὑπερηφανίαν, καὶ καταστήσεις ἐπ’ αὐτῶν χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ δεδαδάρχους, — LXX Swete · 21
22
Have [these men] judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened… as they share it with you.
וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־ הָעָם֮ בְּכָל־ עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ כָּל־ הַגָּדֹל֙ הַדָּבָ֤ר וְכָל־ הַקָּטֹ֖ן הַדָּבָ֥ר יִשְׁפְּטוּ־ הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃ wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū ’eṯ- hā·‘ām bə·ḵāl ‘êṯ wə·hā·yāh yā·ḇî·’ū ’ê·le·ḵā kāl- hag·gā·ḏōl had·dā·ḇār wə·ḵāl haq·qā·ṭōn had·dā·ḇār yiš·pə·ṭū- hêm wə·hā·qêl mê·‘ā·le·ḵā wə·nā·śə·’ū ’it·tāḵ — WLC · 22
καὶ κρινοῦσιν τὸν λαὸν πᾶσαν ὥραν· τὸ δὲ ῥῆμα τὸ ὑπέρογκον ἀνοίσουσιν ἐπὶ σέ, τὰ δὲ βραχέα τῶν κριμάτων κρινοῦσιν αὐτοί, καὶ κουφιοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ συναντιλήμψονταί σοι. — LXX Swete · 22
23
If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these… people can go home in peace.”
אִ֣ם אֶת־ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה הַזֶּה֙ הַדָּבָ֤ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְצִוְּךָ֣ וְיָֽכָלְתָּ֖ עֲמֹ֑ד וְגַם֙ כָּל־ הַזֶּ֔ה עַל־ הָעָ֣ם יָבֹ֥א מְקֹמ֖וֹ בְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ ’im ’eṯ- ta·‘ă·śeh haz·zeh had·dā·ḇār ’ĕ·lō·hîm wə·ṣiw·wə·ḵā wə·yā·ḵā·lə·tā ‘ă·mōḏ wə·ḡam kāl- haz·zeh ‘al- hā·‘ām yā·ḇō mə·qō·mōw ḇə·šā·lō·wm — WLC · 23
ἐὰν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ποιήσῃς, κατισχύσει σε ὁ θεὸς καὶ δυνήσῃ παραστῆναι, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς οὗτος εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον μετ’ εἰρήνης ἥξει. — LXX Swete · 23
24
Moses… listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה לְק֣וֹל וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָמָֽר׃ mō·šeh lə·qō·wl way·yiš·ma‘ ḥō·ṯə·nōw way·ya·‘aś kōl ’ă·šer ’ā·mār — WLC · 24
ἤκουσεν δέ Μωυσῆς τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ γαμβροῦ, καὶ ἐποίησεν ὅσα αὐτῷ εἶπεν. — LXX Swete · 24
25
So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands,… of hundreds,… of fifties,… and of tens.
מֹשֶׁ֤ה וַיִּבְחַ֨ר חַ֙יִל֙ אַנְשֵׁי־ מִכָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־ הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃ mō·šeh way·yiḇ·ḥar ḥa·yil ’an·šê- mik·kāl yiś·rā·’êl way·yit·tên ’ō·ṯām rā·šîm ‘al- hā·‘ām śā·rê ’ă·lā·p̄îm śā·rê mê·’ō·wṯ śā·rê ḥă·miš·šîm wə·śā·rê ‘ă·śā·rōṯ — WLC · 25
καὶ ἐπέλεξεν Μωσῆς ἄνδρας δυνατοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς ἐπ’ αὐτῶν χιλιάρχους καὶ ἑκατοντάρχους καὶ πεντηκοντάρχους καὶ δεκαδάρχους, — LXX Swete · 25
26
And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.
וְשָׁפְט֥וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם בְּכָל־ עֵ֑ת אֶת־ יְבִיא֣וּן הַקָּשֶׁה֙ הַדָּבָ֤ר אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְכָל־ הַקָּטֹ֖ן הַדָּבָ֥ר יִשְׁפּוּט֥וּ הֵֽם׃ wə·šā·p̄ə·ṭū ’eṯ- hā·‘ām bə·ḵāl ‘êṯ ’eṯ- yə·ḇî·’ūn haq·qā·šeh had·dā·ḇār ’el- mō·šeh wə·ḵāl haq·qā·ṭōn had·dā·ḇār yiš·pū·ṭū hêm — WLC · 26
καί ἐκρίνοσαν τὸν λαὸν πᾶσαν ὥραν· πᾶν δὲ ῥῆμα ὑπέρογκον ἀνεφέροσαν ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν. πᾶν δὲ ῥῆμα ἐλαφρὸν ἐκκρίνοσαν αὐτοί. — LXX Swete · 26
27
Then Moses sent his father-in-law {on his way}, and [Jethro] returned to his own land.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־ וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח חֹתְנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ ל֖וֹ אֶל־ אַרְצֽוֹ׃פ mō·šeh ’eṯ- way·šal·laḥ ḥō·ṯə·nōw way·yê·leḵ lōw ’el- ’ar·ṣōw — WLC · 27
ἐξαπέστειλεν δὲ δὲ Μωυσῆς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ γαμβρόν, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν γῆν αὐτοῦ. — LXX Swete · 27