Quotes About Community

Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.

Then Mosesí father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Mosesí father-in-law in the presence of God.

The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, with all the people standing around you from morning till evening?”

“Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied.

“Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me to judge between one man and another, and I make known to them the statutes and laws of God.”

But Mosesí father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

Surely you and these people with you will wear yourselves out, because the task is too heavy for you. You cannot handle it alone.

Teach them the statutes and laws, and show them the way to live and the work they must do.

Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

If you follow this advice and God so directs you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people can go home in peace.”

So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but any minor issue they would judge themselves.

After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes

So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

“These are the ordinances that you are to set before them:

If a manís ox injures his neighborís ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal.

If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone elseís field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.

If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighborís house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.