Portion 17 of 54 · Exodus
יִתְרוֹ
Yitro
A foreign priest gives Moses the best management advice in the Bible, and then a mountain shakes and Ten Words are spoken.
Start by reading it
Exodus 18:1–20:23
3 chapters. About 12 minutes at an unhurried pace.
Paired reading from the prophets: Isaiah 6:1–7:6; 9:5–6
What happens
- 01
Jethro, Moses' father in law and a Midianite priest, arrives and sees him judging alone from morning to night.
- 02
He tells him plainly: this is not good, you will wear out. Delegate.
- 03
The people camp at Sinai and prepare for three days.
- 04
Thunder, smoke, a mountain trembling — and the Ten Commandments, spoken to everyone at once.
The thing most people walk past
The advice comes from outside
The one piece of practical wisdom Moses accepts without argument comes from a non-Israelite priest, and the portion is named after him. The text is not shy about where good sense can come from.
One verse to carry
and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
Not a nation with priests — a nation of them. Whatever the rest of the book asks, it asks of everybody.
A question to sit with
The Ten Commandments are spoken to the whole people, not delivered privately to Moses. Why does that matter?
There is no answer key. This is the part you take with you.