Exodus 18:13-27 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Moses as Judges Exodus 18:13 (should begin a new paragraph) J, Exodus 18:14 a E, Exodus 18:14 b J, Exodus 18:15 E, Exodus 18:16 a (neighbour) J, Exodus 18:16 bf. E, Exodus 18:18 a J, Exodus 18:18 b - Exodus 18:19 a (voice) E, Exodus 18:19 b (council), Exodus 18:19 c E (God-ward), Exodus 18:19 d J, Exodus 18:20-21 a (gain) E, Exodus 18:21 b (including able men) J, Exodus 18:22 a (seasons) E, Exodus 18:22 b J, Exodus 18:23-24 a E, Exodus 18:24 b J, Exodus 18:25 f. Rje, Exodus 18:27 E. A second pair of narratives relating to the visit of Jethro unite in describing him as the sagacious and experienced counsellor who taught Moses as judge to delegate the bulk of the work to subordinates. J tells how Jethro watched Moses sitting all day among a crowd of suitors (Exodus 18:13-14 b, Exodus 18:15 b), wearing out his own strength and theirs (Exodus 18:18). When evening came the astonished visitor gave his counsel (Exodus 18:19 b), not all of which has been preserved. It seems to have been twofold: first, in appeals and graver matters to bring the causes unto God (Exodus 18:19 d), i.e. to resort to the sacred oracle (cf. 1 Samuel 14:41 *), and so relieve himself of the load of unshared responsibility; and, secondly, to appoint able men (cf. Genesis 47:6 b J) as delegates in descending grades to sift out the greater matters and settle the minor affairs (Exodus 18:21 b, Exodus 18:22 b), advice which Moses took (Exodus 18:24 b). E, to which it has been usual to assign the whole passage, is rather more explicit in any case. In reply to his father-in-law, Moses asserts that the people already come to him to inquire of God (Exodus 18:15 a): i.e. the plan of consulting the oracle is already in operation. Further, he makes them know the statutes of God (i.e. those already formulated), and his laws (or directions, i.e. those called forth by fresh circumstances, Exodus 18:16 b, cf. Exodus 18:20). The statutes must be those given on the mount (Exodus 24:12, cf. Exodus 18:3), this passage being out of place. The advice (Exodus 18:19 a) Moses receives is that he shall still himself be for the people to God-ward (Exodus 18:19 c), i.e. solve the graver problems by resort to the oracle (cf. pp. 100f.), warn them of the statutes and laws, and make them know their way and work (Exodus 18:20), but that he shall also appoint suitable delegates (Exodus 18:21 a) to be always accessible (Exodus 18:22 a), and so be able to endure (Exodus 18:23). This Moses did (Exodus 18:24 a, Exodus 18:25 f. being a gloss), and let his father-in-law go (Exodus 18:27). It is a vivid and moving picture that is brought before us: the amazing energy of Moses, his sense of duty, his judicial capacity, his possession in full measure of all the qualities his deputies needed ability, piety, truth, integrity. So, and with good reason in this instance, Israel looked back to Moses as at once the organ of Divine justice and the organiser of its due administration. Another parallel variant is to be found in Numbers 11:14; Numbers 11:16 f., Numbers 11:24 b f. E s on the 70 elders. There is also a sequel to J in Numbers 10:29-32 J, where Hobab (=Jethro) refuses to act as guide in the original story, possibly indicating the Ark (Numbers 10:33; Numbers 10:35 f.) as the pledge of Yahweh's ` (cf. the cloud in Numbers 10:34 P).

Exodus 18:21 b. rulers: better captains (cf. Exodus 1:11, gangmasters or labour-captains as Deuteronomy 1:11, where alone the sequence 1000, 100, 50, 10 is found). The grading seems impracticably minute, unless the reference is simply to the varying size of the clan-units. The Dt. passage, based as usual on E, confirms the dating of Exodus 18 after the giving of the Law and the departure from Kadesh.

Related Commentaries of Exodus 18:13

Exodus 18:13-27

13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses 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?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between onee and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 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:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover thou shalt 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 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.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

25 And Moses 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.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.