The Second Book of Moses, called Exodus
Exodus 18
Chapter XVIII · Vol. I, pp. 324–326
1 Jethro bringeth to Moses his wife and two sons. 7 Moses entertaineth him. 13 Jethro's counsel is accepted. 27 Jethro departeth.
1 WHEN a Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, b heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
a ch. 2.16; 3.1; 4.18.
b Ps. 44.2, 3. ch. vi.-xvii.; 15.14.
2 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took c Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had d sent her back,5
c ch. 2.21; 4.20,25. Nu. 12.1.
d ch. 4.26.
5 No mention is made in Ex. iv. of Moses sending back his wife and sons to Jethro. It is generally supposed that after the event recorded in that chapter he sent them back, not wishing to expose them to the dangers that must be encountered, or to allow his care for them to interfere too much with the great work to which God had called him.—I.
3 And her two sons; of which the e name of the one was f Gershom; (for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land;)
e ch. 2.22. 1 Ch. 23.14-17.
f i.e. a stranger there, Ps. 39.12. He. 11.13. 1 Pe. 2.11.
4 And the name of the other was g Eliezer; (for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.)
A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491.
g i.e. My God is an help, Ps. 46.5; 18.23. Is. 50.7,9. ch. 2.15.
5 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the h mount of God:
h ch. 3.1; 19.11,20; 24.16,17. 1 Ki. 19.8.
6 And he said4 unto Moses, I thy father-in-law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
4 By his messenger. Jethro sent a messenger to inform Moses of his coming; and Moses hereupon went to meet him.—C.
7 And Moses went out to i meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their k welfare: and they came into the tent.
i Ac. 28.15. Ju. 11.34. ch. 20.12. 1 Ki. 2.19. Ge. 29.11.
k Heb. peace, 2 Sa. 11.7. Ps. 122.6.
8 And Moses l told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had m come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.
l Ps. 105.1,2; 145.4-7, 11,12. ch. vii.-xvii. Ne. ix. Is. 63.7-14.
m Heb. found them, Ne. 9.32.
9 And Jethro n rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 And Jethro said, o Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I p know that the q LORD is greater than all gods: r for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.5
p Ge. 22.12. 1 Ki. 17.24.
q 1 Ch. 17.19,20. Je. 10.6,16. Job 11.7. Ps. 145.3; 147.5; 86.8,10; 89.6,8; 136.2,3; 72.18. See ch. 15.11. De. 10.17. Jos. 24.22.
r ch. 1.10,16,22; 5.2, 7; 15.9; 10.16; 14.18. Da. 4.37. Job 5.11-13; 40.11, 12.
5 'Now I know that JEHOVAH is great above all the elohim (false gods), even in the very thing in which they (the Egyptians) dealt proudly with them (the Israelites).' It would seem that Jethro, though he knew the true God, had hitherto retained his old superstitious reverence and fear for idols.—P.
12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took as burnt-offering and sacrifices6 for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to t eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
s Ge. 8.20. Job 1.5. ch. 24.5. Le. 1.3; 7.15.
6 That is, other sacrifices besides a burnt-offering: for no man might eat of the burnt-offering. In peace-offerings, the priest and people had their share.—Kidder.—The Aaronic priesthood had not yet been appointed. Jethro therefore officiated in these sacrifices as interested by faith in that sacrifice which they typified, and which is available to the salvation of all believers. Their eating bread together is a token of the communion of saints. 'Thus was fulfilled the prophetic "sign" which the Lord had given to Moses when he first appeared to him in the burning bush, Ex. 3.12.' (Hales' Chron.)—I.
t Ec. 10.19. ch. 24.11. De. 12.5-7; 27.7. 1 Ch. 29.21,22. 1 Co. 10.31.
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses u sat to judge the people; and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another;7 and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
7 Heb. a man and his fellow.
17 And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thouy wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee:8 for this thing is too heavy for thee; z thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491.
y Heb. fading thou wilt fade, Is. 40.5, 7. Ps. 39.5; 78.39; 49.7,9; 89.48; 103.14-16. 1 Pe. 1.24.
8 Moses by incessant toil and anxiety; and the people by long waiting, and the impatience naturally resulting from it.—P.
z De. 1.9, 12. Ec. 4.12.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and a God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the b causes unto God:
b Difficult causes, Nu. 15.33-35; 27.5,6.
20 And thou shalt c teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the d work that they must do.
21 Moreover, thou shalt e provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And f let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
f ver. 19,26. De. 1.12.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God g command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.9
g Approve of this course, Nu. 11.16.
9 Having their minds quieted, and their controversies ended.
24 So Moses h hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and i did all that he had said.
h Ge. 16.2. 1 Ki. 5.13. 1 Sa. 25.33. 1 Co. 12.21.
i After God had commanded it, Nu. 11.16, and it had been proposed to the people, De. 1.14-18.
25 And Moses k chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
k Upon the people's recommendation, De. 1.13,14. Ac. 14.23; 6.3, 6. It is supposed by some, that the visit of Jethro, and the appointment of judges here related, did not take place till the second year after the exodus from Egypt.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
Notes
Ver. 1. Jethro was a believer in Jehovah, and a patriarchal though not a Levitical priest; that priesthood being not yet instituted, and Moses, Aaron, and the elders, enter into church fellowship with him (see ver. 7-12). The domestic part of the scene described presents a lively example to Christian families. (1) Moses' care to send his wife and children to a place of safety (ver. 2) during his dangerous negotiation with Pharaoh. (2) Jethro's affectionate restoration of them (ver. 6) when the danger was past. (3) The religious character of their entire intercourse, truly worthy of priesthood, prophets of the most high God. The political part of the narrative may afford the noblest lesson to all statesmen. Jethro speaks in the name of God, and no doubt by his inspiration (ver. 19, 23), when he draws the true character of rulers (ver. 21), viz. 'able men,' in modern language, men of talent, such as fear God, men of heart-religion, 'men of truth,' who abhor the temporary aid of falsehood, 'hating covetousness,' who endure the toils of state, not for the advantage it may bring to the ruler, but for the blessing it may enable him to confer upon others. Lord, hasten the time when the 'kings of the earth will be wise,' when the 'judges of the earth will be instructed!' when the 'officers' of Israel 'shall be peace,' and her 'exactors righteousness.' C.]
Ver. 11. Even in the Egyptians' haughty and insolent detaining of his people Israel, imagining it impossible for their God to deliver them, he showed himself infinitely their superior in wisdom and might.
Ver. 12. They feasted before God, near to the symbol of his presence in the cloud, or on the mount, and in holy awe of him, and as in his sight.
Ver. 17, 18. What thou dost is not convenient either for thyself or the people. This tedious attendance will destroy thine own health and theirs.
Ver. 19. I make no doubt but God will bless thee in following the course to which I advise.
Ver. 20. Thou shalt deliver and explain to them God's laws, which they may apply to their particular cases and occasions.
Ver. 21. Men of understanding, courage, piety, candour, faithfulness, and honesty, and who will discourage every wicked thing.
Reflections.—It is highly becoming that professed saints should mark every turn of providence that befalls them; and in a dependence on God as their help, reckon themselves strangers on earth; and that they should inquire after, and rejoice in, one another's welfare. It is necessary that, if married persons part for a time, they should meet again with the first conveniency, that they may share in one another's honours and comforts, as well as in their troubles; and that children should be, as much as possible, under the immediate inspection of religious parents. When great honours from God are attended with due humility towards men; and when such as have seen much of the Lord's goodness readily communicate their experiences to their friends, especially when meeting together they chiefly converse concerning the things of God, and sanctify their mutual friendship with joint prayer and praise, it is both pleasing and instructive. Those in office should always execute the same with fidelity and condescension even to such as have deserved their disregard; and prefer public business to private civilities. But how profitable is wisdom to direct in everything, that we may not overdo even in well-doing! Good counsel is helpful even to the wisest, and proper assistance to the ablest in office; and it will be readily embraced by such as are wise and prudent. With great care and conscience should persons be chosen to offices of government, either in church or state, that none may be admitted but such as are able men, men of truth, fearing God, and hating covetousness. And dreadful is their guilt who help or hold in ignorant and profane persons, to the dishonour of God and the hurt of his people.