Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard about everything God had done for Moses and the Israelites in delivering them from Egypt. He came to meet Moses in the wilderness, bringing with him Moses' wife Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, whom Moses had previously sent away.

When Jethro arrived at the camp near the mountain of God, Moses went out to greet him with great respect, bowing down and kissing him. The two men exchanged greetings and went into Moses' tent, where Moses recounted all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel, including the hardships they had faced along the way and how the LORD had delivered them. Jethro rejoiced and praised God, declaring, "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." Jethro then offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came along with all the elders of Israel to share a meal with him in the presence of God.

The next day, Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, who stood around him from morning until evening bringing their disputes and questions about God's decrees and laws. When Jethro saw this, he expressed concern, telling Moses that the approach wasn't good — that both Moses and the people would wear themselves out, since the burden was too heavy for one man to bear alone.

Jethro then offered Moses wise counsel. He advised Moses to continue representing the people before God and teaching them the statutes and laws but to delegate the work of judging by selecting capable, God-fearing, men of truth who hated covetousness. These men were to be appointed as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They would handle the ordinary cases themselves, bringing only the most difficult matters to Moses. Jethro assured Moses that, if he followed this plan — and if God so directed — he would be able to endure, and the people would be served well.

Moses listened to his father-in-law and carried out everything he suggested. He chose capable men from all of Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people at various levels. These men judged the people at all times, bringing the hardest cases to Moses while handling the simpler ones themselves. After this, Jethro left and returned to his own land.