Exodus 18:1-12 ▼

1 Now Moses’ (drawn out) father-in-law Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian (strife), heard about all that God {Elohim} had done for Moses and His people Israel (he wrestles with God), and how the LORD {YHWH} had brought Israel out of Egypt (land of bondage).

2 After Moses (drawn out) had sent back his wife Zipporah (bird), his father-in-law Jethro (his abundance) had received her,

3 along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom (sojourner), for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

4 The other son was named Eliezer (God is my helper), for Moses had said, “The God {Elohe} of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh (great house).”

5 Moses’ father-in-law Jethro (his abundance), along with Moses’ (drawn out) wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God {Elohim}.

6 He sent word to Moses (drawn out), “I, your father-in-law Jethro (his abundance), am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 So Moses (drawn out) went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.

8 Then Moses (drawn out) recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD {YHWH} had done to Pharaoh (great house) and the Egyptians (land of bondage) for Israel’s (he wrestles with God) sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

9 And Jethro (his abundance) rejoiced over all the good things the LORD {YHWH} had done for Israel (he wrestles with God), whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians (land of bondage).

10 Jethro (his abundance) declared, “Blessed be the LORD {YHWH}, who has delivered you⁺ from the hand of the Egyptians (land of bondage) and of Pharaoh (great house), and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

11 Now I know that the LORD {YHWH} is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”

12 Then Moses’ (drawn out) father-in-law Jethro (his abundance) brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God {Elohim}, and Aaron (light bringer) came with all the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God) to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.