Exodus 18:17

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

Exodus 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 18:17

And Moses's father in law said unto him
Having observed what he did, and heard his answer to the question he put to him:

the thing that thou doest is not good;
not meaning that it was not morally good, or that it was morally evil; for it was certainly a good thing to inquire of the mind and will of God for the people, and to hear and decide matters in controversy between them, and do justice to both parties; but it was not good for the health of Moses; it was not commodious and convenient for him; it was not for his bodily welfare; it was too much for him, as he explains himself in the next verse.

Exodus 18:17 In-Context

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God and his decisions."

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

18 You and the people with you will wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone.

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God, and bring their cases to God;