Jethro came, not at this time, but after the delivery of the law at Mount Sinai; as it may appear,
1. Because he finds them encamped, as it here follows, at the mount of God, i.e. Sinai, whither they came not till Exodus 19:2.
2. Because the laws of sacrifices were given before his coming, as appears from Exodus 18:12.
3. Because the execution of this counsel here given about the choice of magistrates, Exodus 18:19, is related after the Israelites departure from Sinai, Deuteronomy 1:7, &c. And therefore here is a transposal in this history, which is also frequent in other places of Holy Scripture.