Exodus 18:12   (Read all of Exodus 18)

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

Exodus 18:13   (Read all of Exodus 18)

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.

Exodus 18:14   (Read all of Exodus 18)

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"

Exodus 18:15   (Read all of Exodus 18)

Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.

Exodus 18:19   (Read all of Exodus 18)

Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

Exodus 18:20   (Read all of Exodus 18)

Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.

Exodus 18:21   (Read all of Exodus 18)

But select capable men from all the people-men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Exodus 18:22   (Read all of Exodus 18)

Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.

Exodus 18:23   (Read all of Exodus 18)

If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

Exodus 18:24   (Read all of Exodus 18)

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

Exodus 18:26   (Read all of Exodus 18)

They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

Exodus 18:27   (Read all of Exodus 18)

Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

Exodus 19:1   (Read all of Exodus 19)

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on that very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai.

Exodus 19:2   (Read all of Exodus 19)

After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Exodus 19:3   (Read all of Exodus 19)

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:

Exodus 19:4   (Read all of Exodus 19)

'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

Exodus 19:6   (Read all of Exodus 19)

you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

Exodus 19:7   (Read all of Exodus 19)

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.

Exodus 19:8   (Read all of Exodus 19)

The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

Exodus 19:9   (Read all of Exodus 19)

The Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

Exodus 19:10   (Read all of Exodus 19)

And the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes

Exodus 19:11   (Read all of Exodus 19)

and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Exodus 19:13   (Read all of Exodus 19)

They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain."

Exodus 19:15   (Read all of Exodus 19)

Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."