Exodus 18:26
◄  Exodus 18:26  ►
New International Version (©2011)
They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

New Living Translation (©2007)
These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
They judged the people at all times; the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They judged the people at all times; they would bring the hard cases to Moses, but they would judge every minor case themselves.

International Standard Version (©2012)
They judged the people at all times; the difficult matters they brought to Moses, but every minor matter they judged.

NET Bible (©2006)
They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
These men were the ones who usually settled disagreements among the people. They would bring difficult cases to Moses, but they settled all minor ones themselves.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And they judged the people at all times: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

American King James Version
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they judged the people at all times: and whatsoever was of greater difficulty they referred to him, and they judged the easier cases only.

Darby Bible Translation
And they judged the people at all times: the hard matters they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

World English Bible
They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Young's Literal Translation
and they have judged the people at all times; the hard matter they bring in unto Moses, and every small matter they judge themselves.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:13-27 Here is the great zeal and the toil of Moses as a magistrate. Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage, he is a further type of Christ, that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them. If the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were with God, no doubt Moses had many causes brought before him. This business Moses was called to; it appears that he did it with great care and kindness. The meanest Israelite was welcome to bring his cause before him. Moses kept to his business from morning to night. Jethro thought it was too much for him to undertake alone; also it would make the administration of justice tiresome to the people. There may be over-doing even in well-doing. Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty, nor task ourselves beyond our strength. Jethro advised Moses to a better plan. Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive to make others useful. Care must be taken in the choice of the persons admitted into such a trust. They should be men of good sense, that understood business, and that would not be daunted by frowns or clamours, but abhorred the thought of a bribe. Men of piety and religion; such as fear God, who dare not to do a base thing, though they could do it secretly and securely. The fear of God will best fortify a man against temptations to injustice. Moses did not despise this advice. Those are not wise, who think themselves too wise to be counselled.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 26. - At all seasons. See the comment on verse 22. The hard causes they brought unto Moses. It must have been left to the discretion of the judges to determine whether a cause was hard or easy, a great or a little matter. Probably only those causes which seemed "hard" to the "rulers of thousands" were brought before Moses for decision.

CHAPTER 18:27

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they judged the people at all seasons,.... Any day in the week, or any time in the day, whenever there was any occasion for them, and cases were brought before them:

the hard cases they brought unto Moses; that is, the judges brought them to Moses when such came before them which were too hard for them, it was difficult to them to determine rightly about them, then they brought them to be heard and decided by him; for the judges, and not the people, best knew when a case was hard or easy to determine:

but every small matter they judged themselves; and gave it as they saw was most agreeable to justice and equity, and did not trouble Moses with it; by which means he was eased of a great deal of business and fatigue, which was Jethro's view in giving the advice he did.

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Jethro Advises Moses
…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 to 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.

Exodus 18:22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
Deuteronomy 1:17 Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it."