Exodus 18:1-27 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Exodus 18:5. Jethro came to Moses at the mount of God. Horeb and Sinai, where God resided in glory, wrought miracles, and published his law. It would seem that Jethro stayed with Moses till the law was promulgated on Mount Sinai; and that Moses inviting Jethro to go with them to Canaan was at the parting, for he adds, I will return, &c. See Numbers 10. But he advised him to appoint judges and military officers, the day after his arrival.

Exodus 18:6. I am come to thee. The LXX relieve us of the awkward reading of this verse, in the English and Latin version. “It was told Moses, behold thy father-in-law Jethro is coming to thee, and thy wife, and thy two sons with him.” This occurrence comes in properly here, because Jethro's flocks grazed near Horeb. How consolatory for Jethro to find Moses conqueror of Pharaoh, and king in Jeshurun!

Exodus 18:11. The Lord is greater than all gods. To compare the Lord with idols, or with princes, is shocking. The translator was not aware that the Hebrews form their comparative degree by prefixing מן or מ min or mem, sometimes to the adjective, and sometimes to the substantive; מכל michcol, great above all gods. The translators of 2 Chronicles 2:5, and of Psalms 95:3, have given us the true reading: “The Lord is a great King above all gods.”

REFLECTIONS.

We have a fine example of mutual love and relative affection in Jethro and Moses. Jethro had received the Hebrew exile into his house; but he knew not that he had received the greatest of prophets, and the wisest of kings. He had proved his fidelity as a servant, and rewarded it with the gift of a daughter; now he could rejoice in the highest fruits of his hospitality. How happy when good men, and religious families have known one another for forty years, and can bless God that his providence led them to friendship, and that his grace united their hearts.

By the emancipation of Israel, Jethro's faith was greatly increased in the belief and worship of the one true and eternal God. He entered into all the wonders of the Lord, and despised the gods of the heathen. How good it is when the heart properly appreciates the mercies of the Lord, and when we can find friends to aid our weakness by their mutual faith. It is good to associate with those whose hearts are full of heaven and full of love.

Mark also the respect with which Moses received his father-in-law. He went to meet and embrace him, and he made him a feast with all the elders of Israel. The Lord had now raised Moses from pastoral life to regal dignity; but he was still a son, and relative duties are not superseded by elevation and honour. Jethro had most kindly received Moses as a stranger; and now Moses wished Jethro to accompany Israel, and to share in the blessings of their covenant. This overture he declined, being a priest of Midian; but where grace prevails in the heart, where happiness reigns in the house, the bonds of religious friendship are so pure, that however distant in situation, the recollection and attachment remain for ever.

Jethro having participated in the joy of Israel, is in return made useful to them by his advice. He saw the fatigue of Moses in judging the people; and advised him to elect, if God should approve, the sanhedrim or national council of seventy members. And God did approve, and he anointed and qualified the judges for their office, by the spirit of prophecy. This grand council existed throughout all the vicissitudes of the Jewish nation, till long after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; and it often proved a source of salutary counsel, and contributed both to the support of religion and the defence of the state. Civil government is a divine ordinance, and an infinite blessing to a nation. It defends the lives and property of men by a grand chain of magistracy, from the prince to the people; and every magistrate holding his commission of God, as well as the king, should be superior to bribery and corruption, and to all respect of persons. Being called to the high duties of giving effect to the law, of protecting the oppressed, of tracing the mysteries of iniquity and maintaining the rights of God, he has need to be endued with an excellent spirit, and with the wisdom from on high. What but the grace of God can render him superior to passion, to party, and every private consideration? What but the anointing which fell on the seventy elders, or the genuine spirit of virtue and religion can divest him of the fear of man, and enable him to act as in the sight of God?

Related Commentaries of Exodus 18:1

Exodus 18:1-27

1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,

3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom;a for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

4 And the name of the other was Eliezer;b for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare;c and they came into the tent.

8 And Moses 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 comed upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.

9 And Jethro 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, 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 know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

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.