Exodus 18:1-12

Tree of Life Version

Parashat Yitro

Jethro’s Advice

18 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, and how Adonai had brought Israel out of Egypt. (² Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken in Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away ³ with her two sons. One was named Gershom^[a] because he said, “I have been an outsider in a foreign land,” ⁴ and the name of the other was Eliezer because he said, “For my father’s God is my help^[b], and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)

⁵ So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. ⁶ He had told Moses, “I, Jethro your father-in-law, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons.” ⁷ So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, then bowed down and kissed him. They asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. ⁸ Moses told his father-in-law all that Adonai had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, as well as all the travail that had come upon them along the way, and how Adonai delivered them.

⁹ Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness that Adonai had shown to Israel, since He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ Jethro said, “Blessed be Adonai, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that Adonai is greater than all gods, since they had acted arrogantly against them.” ¹² Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, presented a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron also came along with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.