Jethro

Moses’ father-in-law

Who was Jethro?

Priest of Midian and Moses’ father-in-law. Moses was tending his flock when God called him from the bush. Exodus 3:1-2
When he heard how God had brought Israel out of Egypt, he blessed the Lord and offered him sacrifices. Exodus 18:1, 10-12
He saw Moses judging the people alone from morning until night, and advised him to share the work. Exodus 18:13-23

Also called: Reuel (Raguel in the Douay-Rheims) Exodus 2:18
From: From Midian Exodus 3:1
Occupation: Priest of Midian Exodus 3:1; Exodus 18:1

What the Bible says

Exodus 3:1-2

¹Now Moses fed the sheep of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Madian: and he drove the flock to the inner parts of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. ²And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt.

Exodus 18:1, 10-12

¹And when Jethro the priest of Madian, the kinsman of Moses, had heard all the things that God had done to Moses, and to Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought forth Israel out of Egypt, ¹⁰And he said: Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt. ¹¹Now I know that the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against them. ¹²So Jethro the kinsman of Moses offered holocausts and sacrifices to God: and Aaron and all the ancients of Israel came, to eat bread with them before God.

Exodus 18:13-23

¹³And the next day Moses sat, to judge the people, who stood by Moses from morning until night. ¹⁴And when his kinsman had seen all things that he did among the people, he said: What is it that thou dost among the people? Why sittest thou alone, and all the people wait from morning till night. ¹⁵And Moses answered him: The people come to me to seek the judgment of God. ¹⁶And when any controversy falleth out among them, they come to me to judge between them, and to shew the precepts of God, and his laws. ¹⁷But he said: The thing thou dost is not good. ¹⁸Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it. ¹⁹But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him: ²⁰And to shew the people the ceremonies and the manner of worshipping, and the way wherein they ought to walk, and the work that they ought to do. ²¹And provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, in whom there is truth, and that hate avarice, and appoint of them rulers of thousands, and of hundreds, and of fifties, and of tens. ²²Who may judge the people at all times: and when any great matter soever shall fall out, let them refer it to thee, and let them judge the lesser matters only: that so it may be lighter for thee, the burden being shared out unto others. ²³If thou dost this, thou shalt fulfill the commandment of God, and shalt be able to bear his precepts: and all this people shall return to their places with peace.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Jethro

Before Jesus. He had seven daughters, who watered his flock. Some shepherds drove them away from the well, and Moses defended them. Exodus 2:15-17
Before Jesus. When his daughters told him what had happened, Jethro sent for Moses to give him something to eat. Exodus 2:18-20
Before Jesus. Moses stayed to live with him and married his daughter Zipporah. Moses was tending Jethro’s flock when God called him. Exodus 2:21; Exodus 3:1-4
Before Jesus. Moses asked his permission to go back to Egypt, and Jethro sent him off in peace. Exodus 4:18
With Jesus. When he heard what God had done, Jethro went into the desert with Zipporah and Moses’ two sons. Exodus 18:1-5
With Jesus. Moses told him everything. Jethro rejoiced, blessed the Lord and offered sacrifices to God. Exodus 18:8-12
With Jesus. Jethro saw Moses judging the people alone all day long. He advised him to choose capable, honest men to help him. Exodus 18:13-23
Afterward. Moses followed his advice. Then he said goodbye to him, and Jethro went back to his own land. Exodus 18:24-27

Words of Jethro

“Where is he? why have you let the man go? call him that he may eat bread.” Exodus 2:20

To his daughters, when they told him that an Egyptian had defended them at the well.

“Go in peace.” Exodus 4:18

When Moses asked his permission to go back to Egypt.

“Blessed is the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of Pharao, and out of the hand of the Egyptians, who hath delivered his people out of the hand of Egypt.” Exodus 18:10

When Moses told him how God had brought Israel out of Egypt.

“Now I know that the Lord is great above all gods: because they dealt proudly against them.” Exodus 18:11

In that same conversation with Moses.

“The thing thou dost is not good. Thou are spent with foolish labour, both thou and this people that is with thee: the business is above thy strength, thou alone canst not bear it.” Exodus 18:17-18

When he saw Moses judging the people alone, from morning until night.

What they were like

Hospitable: he sent for Moses to give him something to eat. Exodus 2:20
He rejoiced over all the good the Lord had done for Israel. Exodus 18:9
A good adviser: Moses did everything he suggested. Exodus 18:24

The greatest thing they did

He blessed the Lord and acknowledged that he is greater than all gods. Exodus 18:10-11
He offered sacrifices to God, and ate in God’s presence with Aaron and the elders of Israel. Exodus 18:12
His advice gave Israel leaders and judges for everyday matters. Exodus 18:21-26

Not to be confused with

In Ex 2, 18, Moses’ father-in-law is called Reuel, or Raguel in older Bibles. He is not Raguel, Sarah’s father in the Book of Tobit, who lived many centuries later. Exodus 2:18; Tobit 3:7

What people ask

Was Jethro an Israelite?

No. He was the priest of Midian, a people different from Israel. Even so, he blessed the Lord and offered him sacrifices. Exodus 18:1, 10-12

Are Jethro and Reuel the same person?

Yes. Moses’ father-in-law is called Reuel in one passage and Jethro in others. A NAB note explains that he is the same man. Exodus 2:18; Exodus 3:1; NAB note on Ex 2, 18

What advice did he give Moses?

To choose capable men who feared God and were honest, to judge the small cases. The hard cases would be brought to Moses. Exodus 18:21-22

How many daughters did he have?

Seven. One of them, Zipporah, became the wife of Moses. Exodus 2:16, 21

Did he stay to live with Israel?

No. After the visit, Moses said goodbye to him, and Jethro went back to his own land. Exodus 18:27

Daily life He had a flock, and his daughters took it to drink at the well. Exodus 2:16 Little known In Ex 2, 18 he is called Reuel. A NAB…

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Who Jethro is connected to

Moses · father-in-law and son-in-law
Zipporah · father and daughter

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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