Having heard his father-in-law’s advice, Moses implemented it. He appointed men at the various levels to do the judging of the less difficult matters, leaving only the most difficult ones to be brought to Moses. Once this was done, Jethro left to go back to his home in Midian.
Verses 24 – 26 explain Moses’ response to his father-in-law’s advice. He listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. This again shows Moses’ humility. He listens, and when he recognizes wisdom, adopts it. As Jethro described, Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. In essence, Moses followed Jethro’s advice explicitly. The text does not say if the LORD placed His stamp of approval upon the idea, but there is no word of objection from Him either.
Finally, after all this had been done, Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land. Jethro had accomplished much in this visit:
- He reunited Moses with his wife and sons.
- He saw the heavy price Moses was paying for assuming all the responsibility for judging matters among all of the people.
- He advised Moses on how to handle the major problem he saw.
- He saw his plan implemented for the good of Moses and the people.
Biblical Text:
24 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27 Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.
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