EXODUS, CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

NOTE: A review of parts of Chapter 4 is essential to seeing how the first part of Chapter 18 fits into the story.

Exodus 4:18-20, "18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which [are] in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, go in peace. 19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand."

A.Before they got out of Midian there occurred the circumcision incident (see the notes on 4:24-26)

B.All of this seems to have convinced Moses that his mission required his going without his wife and children, so he sent them back with his father-in-law, and had to wait for the reunion until Israel came out of Egypt to Sinai - Ex 18:1-7.

18:1 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;

18:2 THEN JETHRO, MOSES' FATHER IN LAW, TOOK ZIPPORAH, MOSES' WIFE, AFTER HE HAD SENT HER BACK,

A.WHEN JETHRO...HEARD: So the news about what God had done for Israel had spread across the Sinai Peninsula.

B.AFTER HE HAD SENT HER BACK: This confirms what we only in-ferred from the story in Chapter 4 -- That Moses realized a family would be a burden upon him in this undertaking, and that the family would be in hardship and danger, so he made the decision for them to be separated until the mission was completed.

18:3 AND HER TWO SONS; OF WHICH THE NAME OF THE ONE [WAS] GERSHOM; FOR HE SAID, I HAVE BEEN AN ALIEN IN A STRANGE LAND:

18:4 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:

A.Eliezer had not before been named, but it is assumed he is the son whom Zipporah circumcised in Chapter 4.

B.He must have been named after Moses received the news that the Pharaoh who sought his life was dead - 4:19, "And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."

18:5 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:

A.Moses sent Zipporah back after the circumcision incident of Exo 4; Now, perhaps 1-2 years later, there is to be a reunion.

B.AT THE MOUNT OF GOD: At Mt. Sinai, or in its near vicinity.

18:6 AND HE SAID UNTO MOSES, I THY FATHER IN LAW JETHRO AM COME UNTO THEE, AND THY WIFE, AND HER TWO SONS WITH HER.

**Apparently this message was sent from Jethro to Moses.

18:7 AND MOSES WENT OUT TO MEET HIS FATHER IN LAW, AND DID OBEISANCE, AND KISSED HIM; AND THEY ASKED EACH OTHER OF [THEIR] WELFARE; AND THEY CAME INTO THE TENT.

A.MOSES WENT OUT: He was a leader and a great man, but he did not lose the wisdom to be polite to one older than himself, and one who meant so much to him.

B.DID OBEISANCE (BOWED DOWN, NKJ): He showed honor and respect.

C.AND KISSED HIM: After due respect was shown, then there was tender affection.

D.AND THEY CAME INTO THE TENT: Moses would now be reunited with his family, and the tender scene is kept isolated from us.

E.They would all have a lot to talk about, but there is a lesson for us in noting the conversation between Moses and Jethro:

18:8 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 COME UPON THEM BY THE WAY, AND [HOW] THE LORD DELIVERED THEM.

A.Jethro had HEARD OF ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE FOR MOSES (Verse 1), but now he receives a complete history of what had happened.

B.ALL THE TRAVAIL: The hardships and the weariness they endured.

C.ALL THAT THE LORD HAD DONE was the theme of the conversation; No greater subject could have occupied their minds and time. This is the grandest of all subjects -- All else is of less importance, and should be of less interest to those who love God and are truly spiritual. This surely is what we will talk about in Heaven. Is it what we talk about now? Do we enjoy being in the presence of those who do talk about the church and the Word of God?

18:9 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.

18:10 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.

**BLESSED BE THE LORD: All the heathen worshipped, but this man blessed THE LORD (Jehovah); The explanation is in Verse 11:

18:11 NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD [IS] GREATER THAN ALL GODS: FOR IN THE THING WHEREIN THEY DEALT PROUDLY [HE WAS] ABOVE THEM.

A.Jethro, like other heathen people, believed in a plurality of gods, and before this he just thought of the God of the Isra-elites as being one among many. Now he confesses that Jehovah is greater and more powerful than pagan gods.

B.THE THING WHEREIN THEY DEALT PROUDLY: The proud Egyptians were brought low in shame when Jehovah triumphed over them at the Red Sea.

18:12 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.

A.Jethro apparently had become a priest of the true God; As such, he could offer a BURNT OFFERING to Jehovah, and the Israelites could eat of the sacrificial meal.

B.Perhaps this brings Ac 10:34-35 to our thoughts.

C.Some have noted the contrast between this heathen (Jethro) and the one we met in Chapter 17 (Amalek).

18:13 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.

A.ON THE MORROW: That is, the day after Jethro had arrived -- NOTE: Moses went right on with his duties before God even though he had important visitors (his family). He did not allow company to keep him from placing God first.

B.MOSES SAT TO JUDGE: Pulpit Commentary says, "The office of ruler in ancient times, whether exercised by a king, a prince, or a mere chieftain, was always understood to include within it the office of judge."

C.AND THE PEOPLE STOOD BY MOSES: So Moses felt himself obligated to hear and decide all the disputes which arose among the entire population, and they crowded around him, waiting their turn to be heard.

D.FROM THE MORNING UNTO THE EVENING: It was an all-day court.

18:14 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?

A.WHY SITTEST THOU THYSELF ALONE: Moses "sat on the bench," and as he was "sitting" to judge, Jethro wondered why he was "sit-ting" alone -- "Why are you the only judge?"

B.We too may wonder why Moses had not assigned some of this work to others, but remember that he knew well the circumstances of these people -- They had been in slavery, with perhaps little education, no self-rule, and very little knowledge of the principles of law or experience in the practice of courts.

18:15 AND MOSES SAID UNTO HIS FATHER IN LAW, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE COME UNTO ME TO INQUIRE OF GOD:

A.TO INQUIRE OF GOD: To find out what God wanted them to do; They considered Moses to be the only one qualified to speak on such matters.

B.Moses agreed with them, and so did not delegate responsibility to others who might assist him.

18:16 WHEN THEY HAVE A MATTER, THEY COME UNTO ME; AND I JUDGE BETWEEN ONE AND ANOTHER, AND I DO MAKE [THEM] KNOW THE STATUTES OF GOD, AND HIS LAWS.

A.WHEN THEY HAVE A MATTER: When the people had a difficulty be-tween or among themselves, and so had a dispute, or someone had a complaint against another.

B.I DO MAKE THEM KNOW THE STATUTES (rulings) OF GOD: They did not yet have a written law, and all of these LAWS would not be recorded until Moses met God on Mt. Sinai. So it was now his proper function to serve in the legislative capacity as he gave the LAWS orally. What he did not yet see, and what Jethro was going to show him, was that others could then apply the principles and LAWS by serving in the judicial capacity.

18:17 AND MOSES' FATHER IN LAW SAID UNTO HIM, THE THING THAT THOU DOEST [IS] NOT GOOD.

A.Jethro felt he had a right to give his honest opinion.

B.His observation: "For one man to try to discharge the office of a single judge in a community of over two million people IS NOT GOOD -- Your system is not the best way to do it."

18:18 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.

A.THOU WILT SURELY WEAR AWAY: Moses was eighty years old when he first spoke to Pharaoh (Exo 7:7), so he must have been eighty-one or more by now -- His strength would not hold out, and no one is required to go without regard to good health. The body needs periodic rest from work and tension, and Jethro could see that Moses was exhausting himself unnecessarily.

B.BOTH THOU, AND THIS PEOPLE: The patience of the people would be exhausted because Moses could not keep up with the cases. There must have been those who waited all day (or maybe days) for their cases to be heard.

18:19 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:

A.I WILL GIVE THEE COUNSEL (advice): Jethro was a wise man.

B.GOD SHALL BE WITH THEE: He seems to be saying, "He will help you if you will follow the advice I am about to give you."

C.BE THOU FOR THE PEOPLE TO GOD-WARD: This seems to be, "You must continue to be the one to speak to God for the people."

D.BRING THE CAUSES UNTO GOD: In difficult cases, where no rule had been given which could be applied by intelligence and wisdom, Moses would need to go directly to God for the answer.

18:20 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.

A.Jethro says, "And you must continue also to be the one who speaks to the people for God."

B.Thus a code of laws was being built, and later it would all be written as the Law of Moses.

C.Jethro further says, "But after the LAWS are known, then turn the application of them to others" (see Verse 21).

18:21 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:

A.PROVIDE OUT OF THE PEOPLE ABLE MEN: "You need some help from competent leaders who have the ability to see the facts of a case, and the proper application of a remedy. You can find men to serve as subordinate judges." Then Jethro gives the qualifications of such men; They still stand as the best out-line of the character of judges in our present time (there are no perfect men, but here is the direction in which to seek):

B.SUCH AS FEAR GOD: A man who has no respect for the Creator is not likely to fully respect his fellow-creatures. He may have great intelligence and ability, but if he has no regard for God he may allow prejudice or anger to color his judgments, and thus become like the "unjust judge" of Lk 18 who "feared not God, neither regarded man." This essential quality of a good judge is piety (devotion, faith, godliness).

C.MEN OF TRUTH: They are trustworthy; Their word is good; They love truth, and have an honest desire to search for it and find it. This quality is veracity (exactness, truthfulness).

D.HATING COVETOUSNESS: They are strictly honest, and will not accept bribes. This quality is honesty (integrity, honor, uncorruptness). It was often missing among the judges of the Israelites, beginning with the sons of Samuel - 1Sa 8:3, "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment."

E.Further note on ABLE MEN: In every group of people there are those with latent or hidden abilities.

  1. They have potential undeveloped strength which lies dormant.
  2. It will stay inactive and unused unless they, or someone, calls it out and gives it some exercise.
  3. Ability may be natural, but it is largely acquired, and that through hard work (the earlier in life the better).
  4. When someone sees that each one is pressed to the full use of his ability (what he has, and what he can develop), and a variety of talent is used which would otherwise remain idle, then the work is better done.
  5. The apostles understood this principle: Common sense told them they were burdened with work which others could do, leaving them free for greater responsibility - Acts 6:1-7, "1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
  6. This same wisdom needs to be applied today by those who are in position to call on others for service, and by those who need to be called on and to develop themselves.
  7. Are we using whatever ability we have been given, and thus gaining more ability?

18:22 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.

A.AT ALL SEASONS: This may imply that Moses was hearing cases only on appointed court days. This new arrangement would allow cases to be heard at any time, and thus there would be no backlog, and no delay in rendering of justice.

B.GREAT MATTER...SMALL MATTER: These judges could handle the ordinary cases, and leave the more difficult ones for Moses.

C.EASIER FOR THYSELF: Being able to divide the work among others would make the load lighter and the work EASIER for Moses.

18:23 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.

A.AND GOD COMMAND THEE SO: Jethro understood that Moses would need the approval of God before instituting the new system.

B.THOU SHALT BE ABLE TO ENDURE: To maintain health and strength.

C.THIS PEOPLE SHALL ALSO GO TO THEIR PLACE IN PEACE: Specifi-cally, the people could have their cases heard and settled, and could return to their homes with satisfaction. More gen-erally, they could have their affairs in order throughout the journey which was before them, and IN PEACE they finally could reach their destination of Canaan, which was THEIR PLACE.

18:24 SO MOSES HEARKENED TO THE VOICE OF HIS FATHER IN LAW, AND DID ALL THAT HE HAD SAID.

18:25 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.

A.SO MOSES HEARKENED: He saw the wisdom of Jethro's advice and followed it without hesitation (but let us understand that the arrangement was not made until the law had been given at Sinai, and the journey was to be resumed - See Deu 1:9-15).

B.AND MOSES CHOSE: It seems from Deu 1:13 that the people were directed to select the men, and then Moses gave them the authority to RULE (decide matters in their respective courts).

C.THOUSANDS, ETC.: This provided for the power of appeal from TEN, to FIFTY, to a HUNDRED, to a THOUSAND. If the RULERS OF THOUSANDS had an especially important or difficult case, they could then go to Moses for a decision.

18:26 AND THEY JUDGED THE PEOPLE AT ALL SEASONS: THE HARD CAUSES THEY BROUGHT UNTO MOSES, BUT EVERY SMALL MATTER THEY JUDGED THEMSELVES.

18:27 AND MOSES LET HIS FATHER IN LAW DEPART; AND HE WENT HIS WAY INTO HIS OWN LAND.

A.Thus the work of Moses was made much easier.

B.And Jethro could return home without concern for Moses, for his daughter Zipporah, and for his grandchildren.

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