23 If thou shalt do H6213 this thing, H1697 and God H430 command H6680 thee so, then thou shalt be able H3201 to endure, H5975 and all this people H5971 shall also go H935 to their place H4725 in peace. H7965
Thou wilt surely H5034 wear away, H5034 both thou, and this people H5971 that is with thee: for this thing H1697 is too heavy H3515 for thee; thou art not able H3201 to perform H6213 it thyself alone.
And the LORD H3068 went his way, H3212 as soon as H834 he had left H3615 communing H1696 with Abraham: H85 and Abraham H85 returned H7725 unto his place. H4725
Wherefore she said H559 unto Abraham, H85 Cast out H1644 this bondwoman H519 and her son: H1121 for the son H1121 of this bondwoman H519 shall not be heir H3423 with my son, H1121 even with Isaac. H3327 And the thing H1697 was very H3966 grievous H3415 in Abraham's H85 sight H5869 because H182 of his son. H1121 And God H430 said H559 unto Abraham, H85 Let it not be grievous H3415 in thy sight H5869 because of the lad, H5288 and because of thy bondwoman; H519 in all that Sarah H8283 hath said H559 unto thee, hearken H8085 unto her voice; H6963 for in Isaac H3327 shall thy seed H2233 be called. H7121
And it came to pass, when Rachel H7354 had born H3205 Joseph, H3130 that Jacob H3290 said H559 unto Laban, H3837 Send me away, H7971 that I may go H3212 unto mine own place, H4725 and to my country. H776
See, H7200 for that the LORD H3068 hath given H5414 you the sabbath, H7676 therefore he giveth H5414 you on the sixth H8345 day H3117 the bread H3899 of two days; H3117 abide H3427 ye every man H376 in his place, let no man H376 go out H3318 of his place H4725 on the seventh H7637 day. H3117
But the thing H1697 displeased H3415 H5869 Samuel, H8050 when they said, H559 Give H5414 us a king H4428 to judge H8199 us. And Samuel H8050 prayed H6419 unto the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 Hearken H8085 unto the voice H6963 of the people H5971 in all that they say H559 unto thee: for they have not rejected H3988 thee, but they have rejected H3988 me, that I should not reign H4427 over them.
And the LORD H3068 said H559 to Samuel, H8050 Hearken H8085 unto their voice, H6963 and make H4427 them a king. H4428 And Samuel H8050 said H559 unto the men H582 of Israel, H3478 Go H3212 ye every man H376 unto his city. H5892
But the people H5971 answered, H559 Thou shalt not go forth: H3318 for if we flee H5127 away, H5127 they will not care H7760 H3820 for us; neither if half H2677 of us die, H4191 will they care H7760 H3820 for us: but now thou art worth H3644 ten H6235 thousand H505 of us: therefore now it is better H2896 that thou succour H5826 H5826 us out of the city. H5892
But Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 succoured H5826 him, and smote H5221 the Philistine, H6430 and killed H4191 him. Then the men H582 of David H1732 sware H7650 unto him, saying, H559 Thou shalt go H3318 no more out with us to battle, H4421 that thou quench H3518 not the light H5216 of Israel. H3478
When therefore G3767 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 had G1096 no G3756 small G3641 dissension G4714 and G2532 disputation G4803 with G4314 them, G846 they determined G5021 that Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 certain G5100 other G243 of G1537 them, G846 should go up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 unto G4314 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 about G4012 this G5127 question. G2213
And G1161 I went up G305 by G2596 revelation, G602 and G2532 communicated G394 unto them G846 that gospel G2098 which G3739 I preach G2784 among G1722 the Gentiles, G1484 but G1161 privately G2596 G2398 to them which were of reputation, G1380 lest by any means G3381 G4458 I should run, G5143 or G2228 had run, G5143 in G1519 vain. G2756
Nevertheless G1161 to abide G1961 in G1722 the flesh G4561 is more needful G316 for G1223 you. G5209 And G2532 having this G5124 confidence, G3982 I know G1492 that G3754 I shall abide G3306 and G2532 continue G4839 with you G5213 all G3956 for G1519 your G5216 furtherance G4297 and G2532 joy G5479 of faith; G4102
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 18
Commentary on Exodus 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 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.