King James Bible
"Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:"
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, urges Moses to listen carefully to his advice with a promise of divine blessing. This introduces Jethro's solution to Moses' exhaustion from single-handedly judging all disputes, emphasizing that wise counsel aligned with God's will brings His presence and support. Jethro defines Moses' primary role as the people's representative before God—a mediator who stands in the gap. This shifts Moses' focus from handling every minor dispute to maintaining the crucial spiritual connection between Israel and Yahweh. The most significant matters requiring divine wisdom should be Moses' responsibility, while lesser cases can be delegated. This establishes a hierarchy of judicial authority that preserves Moses for the weightiest spiritual and legal decisions that need God's direct guidance.