13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people , and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening . 14 Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people , he said , "What is this thing that you are doing for the people ? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening ?" 15 Moses said to his father-in-law , "Because the people come to me to inquire of God . 16 "When they have a dispute , it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws ." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good . 18 " You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot e do it alone . 19 "Now listen to me: I will give you counsel , and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God , and you bring the disputes to God , 20 then teach them the statutes and the laws , and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do . 21 "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God , men of truth , those who hate dishonest gain ; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands , of hundreds , of fifties and of tens . 22 "Let them judge the people at all times ; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge . So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 "If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure , and all these people also will go to their place in peace ." 24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said . 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people , leaders of thousands , of hundreds , of fifties and of tens . 26 They judged the people at all times ; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses , but every minor dispute they themselves would judge .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 18:13-26
Commentary on Exodus 18:13-27
(Read Exodus 18:13-27)
Here is the great zeal and the toil of Moses as a magistrate. Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage, he is a further type of Christ, that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them. If the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were with God, no doubt Moses had many causes brought before him. This business Moses was called to; it appears that he did it with great care and kindness. The meanest Israelite was welcome to bring his cause before him. Moses kept to his business from morning to night. Jethro thought it was too much for him to undertake alone; also it would make the administration of justice tiresome to the people. There may be over-doing even in well-doing. Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty, nor task ourselves beyond our strength. Jethro advised Moses to a better plan. Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive to make others useful. Care must be taken in the choice of the persons admitted into such a trust. They should be men of good sense, that understood business, and that would not be daunted by frowns or clamours, but abhorred the thought of a bribe. Men of piety and religion; such as fear God, who dare not to do a base thing, though they could do it secretly and securely. The fear of God will best fortify a man against temptations to injustice. Moses did not despise this advice. Those are not wise, who think themselves too wise to be counselled.