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FEBRUARY 3
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders them on the way, and how the LORD had deliv-
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of Israel. So he called the name of the place ered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the
Massah and Meribah, because of the con- good which the LORD had done for Israel,
tention of the children of Israel, and because whom He had delivered out of the hand of the
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they tempted the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD Egyptians. And Jethro said, “Blessed be the
among us or not?” LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel of the Egyptians and out of the hand of
in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people
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“Choose us some men and go out, fight with from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I
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Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of know that the LORD is greater than all the
the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So gods; for in the very thing in which they be-
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Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought haved proudly, He was above them.” Then
with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt of-
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went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, fering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And
when Moses held up his hand, that Israel pre- Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat
vailed; and when he let down his hand, bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
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Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became 13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses
heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, sat to judge the people; and the people stood
and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur support- before Moses from morning until evening.
ed his hands, one on one side, and the other 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he
on the other side; and his hands were steady did for the people, he said, “What is this thing
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until the going down of the sun. So Joshua that you are doing for the people? Why do you
defeated Amalek and his people with the edge alone sit, and all the people stand before you
of the sword. from morning until evening?”
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this
for a memorial in the book and recount it in
the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot
out the remembrance of Amalek from under
heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called 18:13–27 Jethro’s practical wisdom was of
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its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; for he immense benefit to Moses and Israel and has
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been lauded as an example of delegation and
said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD
will have war with Amalek from generation to management organization by efficiency
experts for centuries—and still is. Woven into
generation.” Jethro’s advice were statements about God
And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ and the virtues of godly men that cause one
18 father-in-law, heard of all that God had to respect this man as having his newfound
done for Moses and for Israel His people— faith well integrated into his thinking. Indeed,
that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. he fully recognized that Moses needed divine
2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took permission to enact his advice (v. 23). Moses
Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her apparently did not immediately implement
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back, with her two sons, of whom the name of Jethro’s solution, but waited until the law had
one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a been given (see Deut. 1:9–15).
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stranger in a foreign land”) and the name of
the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of
my father was my help, and delivered me from 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Be-
the sword of Pharaoh”); and Jethro, Moses’ cause the people come to me to inquire of
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father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife God. When they have a difficulty, they come
to Moses in the wilderness, where he was to me, and I judge between one and another;
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encamped at the mountain of God. Now he and I make known the statutes of God and His
had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law laws.”
Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and 17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The
her two sons with her.” thing that you do is not good. Both you and
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7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in- these people who are with you will surely wear
law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they yourselves out. For this thing is too much for
asked each other about their well-being, and you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
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they went into the tent. And Moses told his 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you coun-
father-in-law all that the LORD had done to sel, and God will be with you: Stand before
Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s God for the people, so that you may bring the
sake, all the hardship that had come upon difficulties to God. And you shall teach them
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