Exodus 18

Exodus 18:1-6

This chapter is concerning Moses himself, and the affairs of his own family. 1. Jethro his father-in-law brings him his wife and children, vers. 1—6. 2. Moses entertains him, vers. 7—12. 3. Jethro admits him about the management of his house, as a judge in Israel, vers. 13—23. and Moses, after some time, takes his counsel, vers. 24—26. Is they part, vers. 27.

1. WHEN Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses’s 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’s father-in-law, took Zippotah Moses’s wife, after he had sent her back. 3. And her two sons, of which the name of the one was Gerthom (for he said, I have been an alien in a stranger hand). 4. And the name of the other was Eliezer (for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh). 5. And Jethro, Moses’s 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.

Jethro hearing of Moses’s prosperity, brings him his wife and children. It would be a great comfort to him to take them along with him, as it was a great duty not to be needlessly separated from them. The names of the children are mentioned, Gerthom, a stranger, and Eliezer, God is my help, respective of the state of Moses in Midian, and his confidence in God’s care of him. Note, We are all strangers upon earth, as our fathers were; but we have a child born unto us, to comfort us, the true Eliezer, even Emmanuel, the incarnate God, our helper.

7. ¶ And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obseance, and killed him, and they asked each other of their welfare: 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 travel that had come 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 death proudly, he was above them. 12. And Jethro Moses’s 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’s father-in-law before God.

Exodus 18:7-12

Moses meets his father with affection and respect; for though he is become great, he is not become proud with it. As his heart is full of God’s mercy, he begins immediately, on the first salutation, to recount God’s dealings. Note, It is our duty,

and should be our delight, to tell of the things God hath done for our fouls, for the encouragement and comfort of our brethren. Jethro is happy at the news, and bleifes God for it. We muft thus ever rejoice in the felicity of God’s chofen, and give God the glory due to his name. And hereupon he makes a solemn profession of his faith in Israel’s God, convinced of his greatness above all the powers of man, as well as the inchantments of Egypt and her idols. In token of his faith he offers sacrifice to God, and entertains all the elders of Israel. Though not an Israelite born, yet by faith of the Israel of God. Note, It is well when friends meet, not only to welcome them to our board, but to bring them to the altar. Our meetings will be joyful, and our fealls fanciified, when the word of God, and Christian conversation, and praise, and prayer, are our employment.

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’s father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doft to the people? Why fiteth thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto ever? 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 you and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws. 17. And Moses’s father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doft is not good. 18. ¶ Thou with 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-want, that thou mayst 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, then thou shalt be able to enslure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24. So Moses is arakened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25. And ‘Moses chide also 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 hand 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.

v. 13—27 Moses was their law-giver and judge, as well as their deliverer; and faithful was he in the truth committed to him.

1. Observe how he is employed, to decide in all matters of controversy, and to inform them in all doubtful cases concerning the will of God. Early of access, diligent and laborious in his office, and never diverted from the calls of business by any avocations. The greater a man is, the more useful he should labour to be. The servant of the public must not seek his own pleasure, but the good of the people.

2. Jethro’s observation hereupon. It was inconvenient for the people, and is too much for himself. The multitude of business was attended with delay, and the greatness of the fatigue would kill him thereby. Note, (1.) A zealous minister is not sometimes to forget that his bones are not both, nor his finesse irons, and even in well-doing to destroy himself: but this is neither for God’s glory, nor the people’s good. The continuance of his life and ministry is more desirable; and God is too great a matter to need, and too good a matter to require, as to labour above our strength.

3. His advice, with submission to God’s direction, v. 23, is to relieve himself for the weightless matters relating to the things of God, and the more difficult controversies, and to appoint judges for the more ordinary affairs, referring an appeal to himself in those of importance. Should hear the character of a good judge: of abilities to discern, of a clear understanding, and quick penetration; confirmation, and one that fears

God; who cannot be over-zewd by authority, not levayed by influence; of strict integrity, whack word is sacred, and whose fidelity is tried; especially above the forbid attachment to oneself, whom bribes not only cannot corrupt, but who abhors the thought of such unrighteous gain. Happy the land, where such men sit on the seat of judgment!

4. Moses approves of it, for the wisest men are most ready to receive good counsel. The judges are appointed in several divisions, and in subordination one to another. Note, As we have reason to be thankful for the administration of justice, it is a farther privilege, that we have a right of appeal to higher courts, where wrong determinations may be reversed, and equity soften the rigour of the letter of the law.

5. Jethro returns. It is pleasing to be with our friends; but we have calls at home that demand our presence, and we may then part with comfort, when, like Moses and Jethro, we have profited by each other’s conversation.