According to Exodus 18, Moses’s father-in-law was called Jethro. Jethro was a priest of Midian and the father of Zipporah, Moses’s wife. He welcomed Moses after Moses fled Egypt and later reunited him with Zipporah and their sons in the wilderness.
Jethro’s most notable advice concerned the administration of justice. He saw Moses judging every dispute alone from morning until evening and warned that the arrangement would exhaust both Moses and the people. Jethro recommended appointing capable, trustworthy officials over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.
The name Jethro is associated especially with Exodus 18, although biblical passages use related names for Moses’s Midianite father-in-law. This can cause confusion in comparisons among biblical translations and traditions. In the Exodus narrative, Jethro is the adviser who recommends delegating judicial responsibilities.