出埃及记——第十八章

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出埃及记第十八章： 18:1 摩西的岳父米甸祭司叶忒罗，听见　神为摩西和　神的百姓以色列所行的一切事，就是耶和华将以色列从埃及领出来的事， 18:2 便带著摩西的妻子西坡拉，就是摩西从前打发回去的， 18:3 又带著西坡拉的两个儿子，一个名叫革舜，因为摩西说：“我在外邦作了寄居的”； 18:4 一个名叫以利以谢，因为他说：“我父亲的　神帮助了我，救我脱离法老的刀。” 18:5 摩西的岳父叶忒罗，带著摩西的妻子和两个儿子来到　神的山，就是摩西在旷野安营的地方。 18:6 他对摩西说：“我是你岳父叶忒罗，带著你的妻子和两个儿子来到你这里。” 18:7 摩西迎接他的岳父，向他下拜，与他亲嘴，彼此问安，都进了帐棚。 18:8 摩西将耶和华为以色列的缘故向法老和埃及人所行的一切事，以及路上所遭遇的一切艰难，并耶和华怎样搭救他们，都述说与他岳父听。 18:9 叶忒罗因耶和华待以色列的一切好处，就是拯救他们脱离埃及人的手，便甚欢喜。 18:10 叶忒罗说：“耶和华是应当称颂的，他救了你们脱离埃及人和法老的手，将这百姓从埃及人的手下救出来。 18:11 我现今在埃及人向这百姓发狂傲的事上，得知耶和华比万神都大。” 18:12 摩西的岳父叶忒罗把燔祭和平安祭献给　神。亚伦和以色列的众长老都来了，与摩西的岳父在　神面前吃饭。 18:13 第二天，摩西坐著审判百姓，百姓从早到晚都站在摩西的左右。 18:14 摩西的岳父看见他向百姓所做的一切事，就说：“你向百姓做的是什么事呢？你为什么独自坐著，众百姓从早到晚都站在你的左右呢？” 18:15 摩西对岳父说：“这是因百姓到我这里来求问　神。 18:16 他们有事的时候就到我这里来，我便在两造之间施行审判，我又叫他们知道　神的律例和法度。” 18:17 摩西的岳父说：“你这做的不好。 18:18 你和这些百姓必都疲惫，因为这事太重，你独自一人办理不了。 18:19 现在你要听我的话，我为你出个主意，愿　神与你同在。你要替百姓到　神面前，将案件奏告　神； 18:20 又要将律例和法度教训他们，指示他们当行的道、当做的事； 18:21 并要从百姓中拣选有才能的人，就是敬畏　神、诚实无妄、恨不义之财的人，派他们作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长，管理百姓。 18:22 叫他们随时审判百姓，大事都要呈到你这里，小事他们自己可以审判。这样，你就轻省些，他们也可以同当此任。 18:23 你若这样行，　神也这样吩咐你，你就能受得住，这百姓也都平平安安归回他们的住处。” 18:24 于是，摩西听从他岳父的话，按著他所说的去行。 18:25 摩西从以色列人中拣选了有才能的人，立他们为百姓的首领，作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长。 18:26 他们随时审判百姓，有难断的案件就呈到摩西那里，但各样小事他们自己审判。 18:27 此后，摩西让他的岳父去，他就往本地去了。

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四．摩西与叶忒罗（一八）

　　一八1～12 本章是出埃及记的分界线。到了这时。我们已经看见吗哪、被击打的磐石和河流——都是指到基督的降生、他的死和圣灵的赐下。我们似乎预先看见基督将来的荣耀。

　　摩西的岳父叶忒罗带着摩西的家眷来到他的帐棚和他相聚。事件的发生并没有按先后次序列述。第5节说叶忒罗到西乃山见摩西，但以色列人要到第十九章2节才到达西乃山。解经家指这样安排是为了一气呵成地叙述耶和华与摩西会面，向他颁布律法。也许当摩西回埃及的时候，遗下他的妻子和两个儿子在米甸。这时叶忒罗带来西坡拉、革舜和以利以谢（我的神是帮助），使摩西一家欢喜团聚。似乎叶忒罗这时已归向真神，虽然有些学者相信他已经是敬拜耶和华的。

　　一八13～27 当叶忒罗看见摩西肩负极重祖子，审判众百姓，他便建议他的女婿拣选有才德的人协助他，就是敬畏神、诚实无妄、恨不义之财的人。叶忒罗的建议包括差派这些人作千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长管理百姓。这样就能使摩西的担子轻省些，并能够更有效地把事情处理好。有些人认为叶忒罗的劝告是神感动他而发的，提出合理的做法，把权利分派给其它人。然而。也有人提醒我们，神从来都赐下恩典，委以任务。直到这时，神与摩西谈话，就如跟朋友谈话那样，不须中间人传活。因此，摩西应当坚持下去，直到神另有安排。

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Exodus 18 Jethro, Moses' Father-in-law 1Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3and her (C)two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been (D)a sojourner in a foreign land." 4The other was named (E)Eliezer, for he said, "(F)The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." 5Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mount of God. 6He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her." 7Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel's sake, all the (L)hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how (M)the LORD had delivered them. 9Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10So Jethro said, "(O)Blessed be the LORD who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11"Now I know that (P)the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, (Q)it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people." 12(R)Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God. 13It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening. 14Now when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?" 15Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16"When they have a (T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws." Jethro Counsels Moses 17Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you are doing is not good. 18"(U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19"Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you (W)bring the disputes to God, 20(X)then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21"Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 22"Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will bear the burden with you. 23"If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace." 24So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. 26They judged the people at all times; (AF)the difficult dispute they would bring to Moses, but every minor dispute they themselves would judge. 27Then Moses (AG)bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way into his own land.