Exo 18:1 | Clarke | STEP | Jethro, called the father-in-law of Moses, hearing of the deliverance which God had granted to Israel, , took Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and brought them to Moses, when the Israelites were encamped near Horeb, . He sends to Moses, announcing his arrival, . Moses goes out to meet him, , and gives him a history of God's dealings with the Israelites, . Jethro greatly rejoices, and makes striking observations on the power and goodness of God, . He offers burnt-offerings and sacrifices to Jehovah, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel feast with him, . The next day Jethro, observing how much Moses was fatigued by being obliged to sit as judge and hear causes from morning to evening, , inquires why he did so, . Moses answers, and shows that he is obliged to determine causes between man and man, and to teach them the statutes and laws of God, , . Jethro finds fault, and counsels him to appoint men who fear God, love truth, and hate covetousness, to be judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, to judge and determine in all smaller matters, and refer only the greater and most important to himself, ; and shows that this plan will be advantageous both to himself and to the people, . Moses hearkens to the counsel of Jethro, and appoints proper officers over the people, who enter upon their functions, determine all minor causes, and refer only the most difficult to Moses, . Moses dismisses Jethro, who returns to his own country, . Verse 1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, etc. - Concerning this person and his several names, See Clarke's note on , See Clarke's note on , See Clarke's note on , See Clarke's note on , See Clarke's note on , See Clarke's note on . Jethro was probably the son of Reuel, the father-in-law of Moses, and consequently the brother-in-law of Moses; for the word חתן chothen, which we translate father-in-law, in this chapter means simply a relative by marriage. See Clarke's note on .

Exodus 18:1

Introduction

Jethro, called the father-in-law of Moses, hearing of the deliverance which God had granted to Israel, Exo 18:1, took Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and brought them to Moses, when the Israelites were encamped near Horeb, Exo 18:2-5. He sends to Moses, announcing his arrival, Exo 18:6. Moses goes out to meet him, Exo 18:7, and gives him a history of God's dealings with the Israelites, Exo 18:8. Jethro greatly rejoices, and makes striking observations on the power and goodness of God, Exo 18:9-11. He offers burnt-offerings and sacrifices to Jehovah, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel feast with him, Exo 18:12. The next day Jethro, observing how much Moses was fatigued by being obliged to sit as judge and hear causes from morning to evening, Exo 18:13, inquires why he did so, Exo 18:14. Moses answers, and shows that he is obliged to determine causes between man and man, and to teach them the statutes and laws of God, Exo 18:15, Exo 18:16. Jethro finds fault, and counsels him to appoint men who fear God, love truth, and hate covetousness, to be judges over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, to judge and determine in all smaller matters, and refer only the greater and most important to himself, Exo 18:17-22; and shows that this plan will be advantageous both to himself and to the people, Exo 18:23. Moses hearkens to the counsel of Jethro, and appoints proper officers over the people, who enter upon their functions, determine all minor causes, and refer only the most difficult to Moses, Exo 18:24-26. Moses dismisses Jethro, who returns to his own country, Exo 18:27.

Verse 1

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, etc. - Concerning this person and his several names, See Clarke's note on Exo 2:15, See Clarke's note on Exo 2:16, See Clarke's note on Exo 2:18, See Clarke's note on Exo 3:1, See Clarke's note on Exo 4:20, See Clarke's note on Exo 4:24. Jethro was probably the son of Reuel, the father-in-law of Moses, and consequently the brother-in-law of Moses; for the word חתן chothen, which we translate father-in-law, in this chapter means simply a relative by marriage. See Clarke's note on Exo 3:1.