Exodus 18
DOYLYChap. XIX. ver. 3. — Moses went up unto God,] On mount Sinai, the highest summit of Horeb. Dr. Hales. See note on chap. xvii. 6. Sinai has three tops of a marvellous height: that on the west side, where God appeared to Moses in a bush, fruitful in pasturage; far lower than the middlemost, and shadowed when the sun riseth thereon: which is that whereon God gave the law to Moses, and which is now called the mount of Moses: at the foot of which stands the monastery of St. Catherine’s, from which there were steps formerly up to the very top of the mountain, and were computed 14,000 in number. At present some of them are broken; but those that remain are well made, and easy to go up and down. There are in several places of the ascent good cisterns; and especially near the top, a fair and good one. The third or most easterly summit is called by the religious in those parts mount Catherine. Sandys. One may judge of the height of St. Catherine’s mount, which certainly is not so high as that of Moses by a third part, from this circumstance, that Thevenot found much snow on both when he was there, which was in February. The monastery of St. Catherine is from Cairo some eight days’ journey over the deserts, according to Sandys. Dr. Hales.
Exodus 18:4
- — how I bare you on eagles’ wings,] How I carried say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exodus 18:6
- — a kingdom of priests,] An honourable or a Divine kingdom; not like worldly kingdoms, which are defended by arms; but a kingdom supported by piety. Bp. Patrick. My peculiar church and people: “a royal priesthood,” as in 1 Peter ii. 9; “kings and priests unto God,” Rev. i. 6. Pyle.
Exodus 18:9
- — I come unto thee in a thick cloud,] In a darker cloud than that which had hitherto conducted them; with flashes of lightning gleaming from it in an awful and tremendous manner. Dr. Wells.
Exodus 18:10
- — sanctify them] Let them abstain from ordinary employments, and otherwise lawful pleasure, (ver. 15,) and give themselves to fasting and prayer; that their hearts being abstracted from worldly things, they may be more fit to converse with God: and let them “wash their clothes,” and also their bodies, as a token of their inward sanctification. For thus Aaron and his sons were to be consecrated to their office, chap. xxix. 4; xl. 12; and thus the people were now to be made “an holy people to the Lord:” unto whose religion none were admitted, that is, made proselytes, in aftertimes, but by baptism, which was taken from this pattern. Bps. Patrick and Kidder. As sin is always dangerous, so most, when we bring Before CHRIST 1491. b Deut. 20. 2. c Deut. 5. 2. d Deut. 10. 14. Ps. 24. 1. e 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rev. 1. 6. f Chap. 24. 2. 7. Deut. 5. 27. & 28. 17.
Exodus 18:11
- Now I know &c.] He knew the true God before; but was now fully convinced, that He alone was the Most High; greater than all whom the world accounts “gods.” Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 18:12
- — took a burnt offering &c.] He did this, to acknowledge himself a worshipper of the only true God, and to return Him thanks for the mercies which He had vouchsafed to the Israelites. Dr. Wells. Thus was fulfilled the prophetic “sign,” which the Lord had given to Moses, when He first appeared to him in the burning bush. See chap. iii. 12. The speedy accomplishment therefore of this sign, at the beginning of their journey, was well calculated to strengthen their faith, or reliance on the Divine Protection throughout. Dr. Hales.
— a burnt offering and sacrifices] The Hebrews had probably three sorts of sacrifice, as will hereafter appear: 1st, The burnt offering, which was wholly consumed on the altar without reserve, Lev. i. 2dly, The sacrifice for sin, or sacrifice of expiation, for the purification of a person, who had fallen under an offence against the law, Lev. iv. 3dly, The peace offering, or sacrifice of thanksgiving, by which devout thanks were returned to God for benefits received, Lev. vii. 30. Calmet. Jethro “took sacrifices;” that is, other sacrifices besides a burnt offering. For no man might eat
unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
Exodus 18:19
- — Be thou for the people to Godward,] Do thou propound the doubts and demands of the people to God, as also their suits, in thy prayers; and report God’s answers back again to them. Bp. Hall. When the people bring any matter to thee, which is too hard for others to determine, do thou, if need be, carry it to God, that He may resolve thee. Bp. Patrick.
Exodus 18:20
- — ordinances and laws,] Ordinances are commonly understood to concern matters of religion; and laws, civil matters of justice and charity. Dr. Wells.
Exodus 18:21
- — to be rulers of thousands, &c.] Lord Bacon thinks, in his Essay on English Government, that Alfred the Great took from hence his idea of the old Saxon constitution of sheriffs in counties; hundredors or cent-graves, in hundreds; and deciners, in decennaries or tithings; who were a sort of justices of peace in their respective divisions. Dr. Hales.
Exodus 18:23
- — all this people shall also go to their place in peace.] They shall go home every day from the place
God’s message by Moses unto the people out of the mount. Before CHRIST 1491. voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.