Exodus 18

Ex 18:1-27.

VISIT OF

JETHRO.

1-5. Jethro . . . came . . . unto Moses,

&c.--It is thought by many eminent commentators that this episode is

inserted out of its chronological order, for it is described as

occurring when the Israelites were "encamped at the mount of God." And

yet they did not reach it till the third month after their departure

from Egypt

(Ex 19:1, 2;

compare

De 1:6, 9-15).

6. and thy wife, and her two sons--See

Ex 4:20.

7. Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, &c.--Their

salutations would be marked by all the warm and social greetings of

Oriental friends (see on

Ex 4:27)

--the one going out to "meet" the other, the "obeisance," the "kiss" on

each side of the head, the silent entrance into the tent for

consultation; and their conversation ran in the strain that might have

been expected of two pious men, rehearsing and listening to a narrative

of the wonderful works and providence of God.

12. Jethro . . . took a burnt offering--This friendly

interview was terminated by a solemn religious service--the burnt

offerings were consumed on the altar, and the sacrifices

were peace offerings, used in a feast of joy and gratitude at

which Jethro, as priest of the true God, seems to have presided, and to

which the chiefs of Israel were invited. This incident is in beautiful

keeping with the character of the parties, and is well worthy of the

imitation of Christian friends when they meet in the present day.

13-26. on the morrow . . . Moses sat to judge the

people, &c.--We are here presented with a specimen of his daily

morning occupations; and among the multifarious duties his divine

legation imposed, it must be considered only a small portion of his

official employments. He appears in this attitude as a type of Christ

in His legislative and judicial characters.

the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening,

&c.--Governors in the East seat themselves at the most public gate of

their palace or the city, and there, amid a crowd of applicants, hear

causes, receive petitions, redress grievances, and adjust the claims of

contending parties.

17. Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing . . . is

not good--not good either for Moses himself, for the maintenance of

justice, or for the satisfaction and interests of the people. Jethro

gave a prudent counsel as to the division of labor

[Ex 18:21, 22],

and universal experience in the Church and State has attested the

soundness and advantages of the principle.

23. If thou shalt do this thing, &c.--Jethro's counsel was given

merely in the form of a suggestion; it was not to be adopted without

the express sanction and approval of a better and higher Counsellor;

and although we are not informed of it, there can be no doubt that

Moses, before appointing subordinate magistrates, would ask the mind of

God, as it is the duty and privilege of every Christian in like manner

to supplicate the divine direction in all his ways.