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Reading Plan · Day 22

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Exodus 16-18

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Previously · Day 21 · Exodus 13-15

The previous day's reading documented the rebirth of the nation of Israel into the 5th Dispensation. God brought them through the Red Sea and defended them from the Egyptians. God stated He would not take them directly to the Promised Land. He was taking them the long way in order to give them time to mature.

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Where You Stopped

Exodus 16

1And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness:

1And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

Commentary · verses 1-2

The whole congregation murmured against Moses. In fact, they had "fond memories" of Egypt...

3and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

4Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.

3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

4Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Commentary · verses 3-4

Bread from heaven: this was physical bread from God, Jesus is our spiritual bread from God.

John 6:48-51:

"48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."

5And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

6And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that Jehovah hath brought you out from the land of Egypt;

5And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

6And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:

Commentary · verses 5-6

Moses and Aaron tried to build Israel's faith by saying this miracle would prove it was God.

7and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of Jehovah; for that he heareth your murmurings against Jehovah: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

8And Moses said, This shall be, when Jehovah shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that Jehovah heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.

7And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?

8And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

Commentary · verses 7-8

Moses and Aaron were God's spokesmen. When the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, they were actually murmuring against God. Do you think this may still be happening today? Do people who speak grace from God get "murmured" against?

9And Moses said unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before Jehovah; for he hath heard your murmurings.

10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud.

9And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.

10And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

Commentary · verses 9-10

Moses was still using Aaron as his own spokesman.

11And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God.

11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

Commentary · verses 11-12

Meat and bread would be provided by God until they were full.

13And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp.

14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost on the ground.

15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is it? for they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, It is the bread which Jehovah hath given you to eat.

13And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.

14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Commentary · verses 13-15

"Manna" meant "What is it?" This confused God's people because it was something new and without precedence. Likewise, when the gift of tongues came to believers on Pentecost, it confused believers because it was something new and without precedence. In fact, Acts 2:12 quoted those believers as saying, "What meaneth this?"

16This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, Gather ye of it every man according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, shall ye take it, every man for them that are in his tent.

16This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

Commentary · verse 16

An "omer" was anywhere from a gallon's worth to as little as a cupful. It seems whatever the precise measure God meant for it is not known today. However, the total amount would have only been enough for a man to eat for the day.

17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less.

18And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.

18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.

Commentary · verses 17-18

Paul referenced this verse in 2 Corinthians 8:15.

19And Moses said unto them, Let no man leave of it till the morning.

20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was wroth with them.

19And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.

20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

Commentary · verses 19-20

God provided a miracle and the people still disobeyed. When the devil tempted Jesus by saying He should turn stones to bread, Jesus stated that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the Mouth of God (see Matthew 4:3-4; Luke 4:3-4). The manna was bread from Heaven, like Jesus, who is the Word. Notice, day old manna stinks. Trying to hold onto what God did for you in the past will hold you back. God wants to give you "daily" bread.

21And they gathered it morning by morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

Commentary · verse 21

The sun melted the manna.

22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

23And he said unto them, This is that which Jehovah hath spoken, To-morrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto Jehovah: bake that which ye will bake, and boil that which ye will boil; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

24And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not become foul, neither was there any worm therein.

22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.

23And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

24And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

Commentary · verses 22-24

When Israel had to gather two days' worth of manna, God preserved the day old manna so it could still be eaten on the seventh day.

25And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto Jehovah: to-day ye shall not find it in the field.

26Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

27And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none.

25And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.

26Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

27And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

Commentary · verses 25-27

The people still did not obey.

28And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

28And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Commentary · verse 28

God asked Moses: "how long will these people refuse to obey?" If God knew the answer to this question, then why did He ask it? Notice, God presented the situation (Israel's refusal to keep His commandments and His Law) to Moses in the form of a question, just like He approached Adam/Eve and Cain. God was treating Israel, at the beginning of this dispensation, the same way He treated the first people at the beginning of the 1st Dispensation (Eden) and the 2nd Dispensation (Pre-Flood) - Cain in Genesis 4.

29See, for that Jehovah hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

30So the people rested on the seventh day.

29See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

30So the people rested on the seventh day.

Commentary · verses 29-30

We have seen that God resting on the Seventh Day meant God ceased from the occupation of being a First Cause. The people were likewise to cease from the occupation of being a first cause, they were to stop doing what they wanted to do on this day and allow God to direct their actions.

31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

32And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, Let an omerful of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread wherewith I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

31And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

32And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.

Commentary · verses 31-32

An omer of manna was saved as proof for later generations.

33And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omerful of manna therein, and lay it up before Jehovah, to be kept throughout your generations.

34As Jehovah commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

35And the children of Israel did eat the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat the manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

33And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

34As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

35And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Commentary · verses 33-35

The people ate manna for forty years which was a statement that actually got ahead of the story. This showed that this book was written once the children of Israel came unto the borders of the Promised Land, which was just before Moses died. The day the manna ceased was documented in Joshua 5:12. Since it was a miracle every day that manna appeared during these forty years, this meant the children of Israel would have experienced over 12,000 miracles.

36Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

36Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

Commentary · verse 36

This is as specific a measure as we get for an "omer": a dry measure of 1/10 ephah; estimated to be about two liters.

Where You Stopped

Exodus 17

1And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and encamped in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

1And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Commentary · verse 1

Rephidim was the next stop. "Rephidim" meant "rests; stays; resting places."

2Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?

3And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

2Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

3And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Commentary · verses 2-3

The people thirsted for water and murmured against Moses. It seemed like every trial the people had to deal with was immediately blamed on Moses.

4And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they are almost ready to stone me.

4And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

Commentary · verse 4

Moses said the people were almost ready to stone him. God did miracles and people got worse. Reborn Israel was still a child.

5And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.

6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

5And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Commentary · verses 5-6

God told Moses to "smite the rock." Moses obeyed God and did just as He commanded.

7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?

7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Commentary · verse 7

Moses renamed the place after God provided a miracle. "Massah" meant "temptation"; "Meribah" meant "strife; contention."

8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

8Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Commentary · verse 8

Amalek was from Esau. Notice, all of the conflicts since the Red Sea have been from within Israel. This conflict came from outside of Israel. Reborn Israel had reached the "social age," the age children begin to learn how to interact with others.

9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.

9And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

Commentary · verse 9

The introduction of a new character: Joshua. This was the first mention of this important leader.

10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

10So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Commentary · verses 10-11

Only a portion of Israel fought. Israel fought their first enemy but their success was dependent on Moses. God was slowly developing them.

12But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

12But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Commentary · verse 12

Even as Israel's leader, Moses did not have to do his job alone.

13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14and Jehovah said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Commentary · verses 13-14

Israel won and God said He wanted everyone to know He would eventually put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Amalek was from Esau.

15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi;

15And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it JEHOVAH–nissi:

Commentary · verse 15

"Jehovah-nissi" meant "Jehovah is my banner." A banner is a type of flag. In this case, it was a symbol of God's victory in battle. This was an act of honoring God. Moses had a part in this battle but he knew that God was the cause of the victory, which was proven by Moses building the altar for Jehovah.

16and he said, Jehovah hath sworn: Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

16For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Commentary · verse 16

The Amalekites would play a critical role in Israel's history.

Where You Stopped

Exodus 18

1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.

1When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

Commentary · verse 1

Jethro heard about Moses and how God had released Israel from bondage.

2And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her away, 3and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land:

2Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

3And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

Commentary · verses 2-3

"Gershom" meant "foreigner."

4and the name of the other was Eliezer; for he said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.

4And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

Commentary · verse 4

"Eliezer" meant "God is help." Jethro brought Moses' wife and sons to him.

5And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God: 6and he said unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

8And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.

5And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

6And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

8And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

Commentary · verses 5-8

Moses told Jethro of all the travail and of the deliverance from Egypt.

9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Commentary · verse 9

Jethro rejoiced based off of Moses' retelling of this story. Jethro must have trusted Moses.

10And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

10And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

Commentary · verses 10-11

Jethro knew the Lord was greater than all gods because of Moses' testimony.

12And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.

12And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

Commentary · verses 12-13

Moses sat to judge the people all day. Remember, during the 4th Dispensation there were no policemen and no courts. Moses was God's judge. God was the leader of the people.

14And when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?

15And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: 16when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17And Moses’ father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

14And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

16When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

Commentary · verses 14-17

Jethro told Moses that this was not good, this was not creating. Remember, Jethro was happy for Moses' success by the hand of God, so this was not jealousy.

18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God: 20and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Commentary · verses 18-20

It was Moses' job to go to God for counsel to help the people understand how to progress forward the right way.

Doctrines on this passage

21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

Commentary · verses 21-22

Additionally, Jethro told Moses to identify people to judge the lesser issues. Jethro realized Moses' position was a burden, not a perk. It was a responsibility, not a reward/benefit. Jethro established the concept that there ought to be a visionary leader and a day-to-day leader. Moses was the visionary leader: interacting with God, looking to the future, and showing the people how to progress towards this future. Moses could only do that if there were people handling the day-to-day issues.

23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.

23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

Commentary · verses 23-24

Moses handled correction from Jethro excellently. Moses did everything Jethro said.

25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Commentary · verses 25-27

Moses left Jethro.

Commentary · verse 27

This day's reading documented God's maturing of the children of Israel to the "social age" through their conflict with the Amalekites. God also spoke to Moses through Jethro in order to provide the structure that would allow Moses to spend more time with God and less time dealing with the day-to-day issues.

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