Exodus 18:14 - When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”
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What does "Exodus 18:14" mean?
This verse (Exodus 18:14) captures a moment of observation and concern from Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. Let's break down its meaning:
"When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people..." - Jethro, a Midianite priest, had come to visit Moses in the wilderness after the Exodus. He was now witnessing firsthand the daily activities of Moses as the leader and judge of the Israelites.
"...he said, 'What is this thing that you do for the people?'" - Jethro is questioning Moses' method. He's not necessarily criticizing, but he's curious and perhaps a little perplexed by the way Moses is spending his time and energy.
"Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?" - This is the crux of Jethro's concern. He observes that Moses is acting as a one-man court and administrator. He is sitting alone, presumably hearing every case and resolving every dispute, while the people are forced to wait in long lines from dawn until dusk to have their turn.
Therefore, the verse means:
Jethro is questioning the unsustainable and inefficient way Moses is handling the people's affairs. He sees that Moses is overburdening himself and creating a bottleneck, causing unnecessary hardship and delays for the Israelites. Jethro's upcoming advice (in the following verses) will be about delegating authority and establishing a more structured system of justice and leadership to alleviate the strain on both Moses and the people.
Exodus 18:14 - When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?”
What does "Exodus 18:14" mean?
This verse (Exodus 18:14) captures a moment of observation and concern from Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. Let's break down its meaning:
"When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people..." - Jethro, a Midianite priest, had come to visit Moses in the wilderness after the Exodus. He was now witnessing firsthand the daily activities of Moses as the leader and judge of the Israelites.
"...he said, 'What is this thing that you do for the people?'" - Jethro is questioning Moses' method. He's not necessarily criticizing, but he's curious and perhaps a little perplexed by the way Moses is spending his time and energy.
"Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?" - This is the crux of Jethro's concern. He observes that Moses is acting as a one-man court and administrator. He is sitting alone, presumably hearing every case and resolving every dispute, while the people are forced to wait in long lines from dawn until dusk to have their turn.
Therefore, the verse means:
Jethro is questioning the unsustainable and inefficient way Moses is handling the people's affairs. He sees that Moses is overburdening himself and creating a bottleneck, causing unnecessary hardship and delays for the Israelites. Jethro's upcoming advice (in the following verses) will be about delegating authority and establishing a more structured system of justice and leadership to alleviate the strain on both Moses and the people.