Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
Now the priest of Midian - as the offices were usually conjoined, he was the ruler also of the people called Cushites or Ethiopians, and, like many other chiefs of pastoral people in that early age, he still retained the faith and worship of the true God.
Seven daughters - were shepherdesses, to whom Moses was favourably introduced by an act of courtesy and courage in protecting them from the rude shepherds of some neighbouring tribe at the well.
Verse 18. Reuel their father - or Raguel (Numbers 10:29) [Septuagint, Ragoueel, in both places]. This is supposed to be his proper name, while Jethro (Exodus 3:1) was a title of official dignity. Or if Jethro were the real appellative of the man (father of the shepherdesses), Reuel or Raguel might be his father (their grandfather), and Hobab his son (Judges 4:11). He afterward formed a close and permanent alliance with this family, by marrying one of the daughters, Zipporah (a little bird, called a Cushite or Ethiopian (Numbers 12:1), and whom he doubtless obtained in the manner of Jacob, by service. He had by her two sons, whose names were, according to common practice, commemorative of incidents in the family history.
Verse 22. Gershom - i:e. х geer (H1616) shaam (H8033)], a stranger or sojourner there [Septuagint, Geersam].