3. along with his two sons. The first son was named Gershom, because when he was born, Moses said, “I am a stranger in a foreign country.”
4. The other son was named Eliezer, because when he was born, Moses said, “The God of my father is my help. He saved me from the king of Egypt.”
5. So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife and his two sons and went to Moses. He was camped in the desert near the mountain of God.
6. Jethro had sent a message ahead to Moses that said, “I, Jethro, your father-in-law, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
7. So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. After the two men asked about each other’s health, they went into Moses’ tent.
8. Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to the king and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about all the problems they had faced along the way and how the Lord had saved them.
9. Jethro was very happy to hear all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he had saved them from the Egyptians.
10. He said, “Praise the Lord. He has saved you from the Egyptians and their king, and he has saved the people from the power of the Egyptians.
11. Now I know the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did this to those who looked down on Israel.”
12. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, gave a whole burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to Moses’ father-in-law to eat the holy meal together before God.
13. The next day Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night.
14. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is all this you are doing for the people? Why are you the only one to solve disagreements? All the people are standing around you from morning until night!”
15. Then Moses said to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me for God’s help in solving their disagreements.
16. When people have a disagreement, they come to me, and I decide who is right. I tell them God’s laws and teachings.”