13 And it cometh to pass on the morrow, that Moses sitteth to judge the people, and the people stand before Moses, from the morning unto the evening; 14 and the father-in-law of Moses seeth all that he is doing to the people, and saith, 'What 'is' this thing which thou art doing to the people? wherefore art thou sitting by thyself, and all the people standing by thee from morning till evening?' 15 And Moses saith to his father-in-law, 'Because the people come unto me to seek God; 16 when they have a matter, it hath come unto me, and I have judged between a man and his neighbour, and made known the statutes of God, and His laws.' 17 And the father-in-law of Moses saith unto him, 'The thing which thou art doing 'is' not good; 18 thou dost surely wear away, both thou, and this people which 'is' with thee, for the thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to do it by thyself. 19 'Now, hearken to my voice, I counsel thee, and God is with thee: be thou for the people over-against God, and thou hast brought in the things unto God; 20 and thou hast warned them 'concerning' the statutes and the laws, and hast made known to them the way in which they go, and the work which they do. 21 'And thou—thou dost provide out of all the people men of ability, fearing God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain, and hast placed 'these' over them, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens, 22 and they have judged the people at all times; and it hath come to pass, every great matter they bring in unto thee, and every small matter they judge themselves; and lighten it from off thyself, and they have borne with thee. 23 If thou dost this thing, and God hath commanded thee, then thou hast been able to stand, and all this people also goeth in unto its place in peace.' 24 And Moses hearkeneth to the voice of his father-in-law, and doth all that he said, 25 and Moses chooseth men of ability out of all Israel, and maketh them chiefs over the people, heads of thousands, heads of hundreds, heads of fifties, and heads of tens, 26 and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves.
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.