Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 18:13-27

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses` father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses` father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden] with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. And 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. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land." — Exodus 18:13-27 (ASV)

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, as he is also employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them. If the people were as quarrelsome with one another as they were with God, no doubt Moses had many cases brought before him. Moses was called to this business, and it appears that he performed it with great care and kindness.

The humblest Israelite was welcome to bring his case before him. Moses kept to his business from morning to night. Jethro thought it was too much for him to undertake alone; additionally, it would make the administration of justice tiresome for the people. There can be overdoing even in well-doing. Wisdom is profitable to direct, so 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 strive to be useful themselves, but also contrive to make others useful. Care must be taken in choosing the persons admitted to such a trust. They should be men of good sense, who understood business, and who would not be daunted by frowns or clamors, but abhorred the thought of a bribe. Men of piety and religion; specifically, those who fear God, who dare not 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 counseled.