CHAPTER XVIII Jethro, _called the father-in-law of Moses, hearing of the_ _deliverance which God had granted to Israel_, 1, _took Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and brought_ _them to Moses, when the Israelites were encamped near Horeb_, 2-5. _He sends to Moses, announcing his a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:2. _AFTER HE HAD SENT HER BACK_] Why Zipporah and her two sons returned to Midian, is not certainly known. From the transaction recorded Exodus 4:20; Exodus 4:24, it seems as if she had been alarmed at the danger to which the life of one of her sons had been exposed, and fearing wors... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:3. _THE NAME OF THE ONE_ WAS _GERSHOM_] Exodus 2:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:5. _JETHRO - CAME WITH HIS SONS_] There are several reasons to induce us to believe that the fact related here is out of its due chronological order, and that Jethro did not come to Moses till the beginning of the second year of the exodus, (see Numbers 10:11), some time after the ta... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:6. _AND HE SAID UNTO MOSES_] That is, by a messenger; in consequence of which Moses went out to meet him, as is stated in the next verse, for an interview had not yet taken place. This is supported by reading הנה _hinneh, behold_, for אני _ani, I_, which is the reading of the Septuag... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:7. _AND DID OBEISANCE_] וישתחו _vaiyishtachu, he bowed_ _himself down_, (Genesis 17:3; and _"_Exodus 4:31_"_;) this was the general token of respect. _And kissed him_; the token of friendship. _And they asked_ _each other of_ their _welfare_; literally, _and they inquired,_ _each man... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:9. _AND JETHRO REJOICED FOR ALL THE GOODNESS_] Every part of Jethro's conduct proves him to have been a religious man and a true believer. His thanksgiving to Jehovah (Exodus 18:10) is a striking proof of it; he first blesses God for the preservation of Moses, and next for the delive... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:11. _NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD_ IS _GREATER THAN ALL GODS_] Some think that Jethro was _now_ converted to the true God; but it is very probable that he enjoyed this blessing before he knew any thing of Moses, for it is not likely that Moses would have entered into an alliance with thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:12. _JETHRO - TOOK A BURNT-OFFERING_] עלה _olah_. Though it be true that in the patriarchal times we read of a burnt-offering, (see Genesis 22:2, c.,) yet we only read of one in the case of _Isaac_, and therefore, though this offering made by Jethro is not a decisive proof that the l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:13. _TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE_] To hear and determine controversies between man and man, and to give them instruction in things appertaining to God. _FROM THE MORNING UNTO THE EVENING._] Moses was obliged to sit all day, and the people were continually coming and going.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:15. _THE PEOPLE COME UNTO ME TO INQUIRE OF GOD_] To know the mind and will of God on the subject of their inquiries. Moses was the _mediator_ between God and the people; and as they believed that all justice and judgment must come from him, therefore they came to Moses to know what G... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:16. _I DO MAKE_ THEM _KNOW THE STATUTES OF GOD, AND HIS_ _LAWS._] These words are so very particular that they leave little room for doubt that the law had been given. Such words would scarcely have been used had not the _statutes_ and _laws_ been then in existence. And this is one o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:18. _THOU WILT SURELY WEAR AWAY_] נבל תבל _nabol tibbol, in_ _wearing way, thou wilt wear away _- by being thus _continually_ employed, thou wilt soon become _finally exhausted_. _And this_ _people that is with thee_; as if he had said, "Many of them are obliged to wait so long for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:19. _I WILL GIVE THEE COUNSEL, AND GOD SHALL BE WITH THEE_] Jethro seems to have been a man of great _understanding_ and prudence. His advice to Moses was most appropriate and excellent; and it was probably given under the immediate inspiration of God, for after such sacrificial rite... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:20. _THOU SHALT TEACH THEM ORDINANCES_] חקים _chukkim_, all such _precepts_ as relate to the _ceremonies of religion_ and _political economy_. _And laws_, התורת hattoroth, the instructions relative to the whole system of _morality_. _AND SHALT SHOW THEM THE WAY_] אה הדרך _eth hadder... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:21. _ABLE MEN_] Persons of wisdom, discernment, judgment, prudence, and fortitude; for who can be a _ruler_ without these qualifications? _SUCH AS FEAR GOD_] Who are truly religious, without which they will feel little concerned either for the bodies or souls of the people. _MEN OF... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:23. _IF THOU SHALT DO THIS THING, AND GOD COMMAND THEE_] Though the measure was obviously of the utmost importance, and plainly recommended itself by its expediency and necessity; yet Jethro very modestly leaves it to the wisdom of Moses to choose or reject it; and, knowing that in a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Exodus 18:27. _AND MOSES LET HIS FATHER-IN-LAW DEPART_] But if this be the same transaction with that mentioned Numbers 10:29, c., we find that it was with _great reluctance_ that Moses permitted so able a counsellor to leave him for, having the highest opinion of his judgment, experience, an... [ Continue Reading ]