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How did Jethro influence Moses’s system of governing the Israelites?

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Moses and the Ten Commandments — Moses *Moses Showing the Tables of the Law to the People*, oil painting by Rembrandt, 1659; in the Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin.

Jethro, a Midianite priest and the father-in-law of Moses, played a pivotal role in shaping the administrative structure of the early Hebrew community.

During a visit to the Hebrews at the "mountain of God" following the Exodus, Jethro observed that Moses was personally attempting to manage all judicial matters for the people. Recognizing that this burden was unsustainable, Jethro advised Moses to appoint capable men to assist him in judging the people.12

Following this counsel, Moses instituted a formal system of judges and hearings to regulate the civil aspects of the community. This delegation of authority effectively founded the Hebrew judiciary, allowing for a more organized and sustainable method of governance as the Israelites navigated their journey.21