A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Exodus · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Verſ. 1. WHen Jethro the priest of Midian, &c.]
See Exod. 2. 16, 18. alſo the 3. 1.
Verſ. 2. Then Jethro Moſes father in law took Zipporah Moſes wife, after he had ſent her back.]
See Exod. 4. 20.
Verſ. 5. And Jethro, Moſes father in law, came with his ſonnes and his wife, &c.]
Theſe words make known the coming of Jethro to Moſes with his daughter the wife of Moſes, and her two ſonnes; and particularly where Moſes was when they came to him, to wit, that he was encamped at the mount of God, that is at Horeb (which why it is called the mount of God, is noted before upon Exod. 3. 1.) Evident therefore it is that though the removing of the Iſraelites from Rephidim (where they vanquiſhed the Amalekites) to the deſert of Sinai, where this mount of God was, be not mentioned till the beginning of the following chapter, yet thither they were removed before Jethro came to them.
Verſ. 6. And he ſaid unto Moſes, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, &c.]
That is, Jethro ſent this meſſage to Moſes; and therefore it is ſaid in the next verſe, that hereupon Moſes went out to meet him. Conſidering that the armies of the Iſraelites were ſtill watchfull doubtleſſe of enemies that might ſet upon them, and the rather becauſe the Amalekites had ſo lately aſſaulted them, no wonder it is though Jethro did, before he came upon them with his train, firſt ſend to inform Moſes of his coming, that they might know who they were, and why they were come. But beſides it was requiſite in point of civility, that Jethro ſhould beforehand ſend Moſes word of his coming, that he might do what to him ſeemed good for the receiving of them.
Verſ. 11. I know that the Lord is greater then all Gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.]
That is, in redeeming the Iſraelites out of their cruell bondage, concerning which Pharaoh and his Egyptians carryed themſelves with ſuch pride and inſolencie, as if they thought it impoſſible that God ſhould deliver them out of their hands, and reſolved that they would in deſpight of God hold them ſtill in Egypt. And indeed if Moſes had now told Jethro, as it is likely he did, how arrogantly Pharaoh at firſt diſdained the meſſage which Moſes delivered to him from the Lord, ſaying, Who is the Lord that I ſhould obey his voice to let Iſrael go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Iſrael go, chap. 5. 2. and thereupon laid heavier tasks upon them then he did before; and howthe Magicians of Egypt ſtrove with Moſes, & ſought to work the ſame miracles that Moſes, but were ſtill confounded, and forced at laſt to acknowledge the mighty power of God; and yet their Magick, and the feats they wrought thereby, was the chief pride of Egypt, and that wherein they moſt gloried; and laſtly with what a high hand they purſued the Iſraelites to fetch them back when they were come away, aſſuring themſelves that they ſhould not ſcape; chap. 15. 9. The enemie ſaid, I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoyl, my lust ſhall be ſatisfied upon them; no marvel though Jethro thereupon now anſwered, that in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, God was above them.
Verſ. 12. And Aaron came, and all the elders of Iſrael, to eat bread with Moſes father in law before God.]
This clauſe, before God, is added, becauſe it was a religious banquet, eaten before the Majeſtie of God, and accompanying their ſacrifices, as was uſuall. See Deut. 12. 5, 7. Unto the place which the Lord your God ſhall chuſe out of all your tribes to put his name there, there ye ſhall eat before the Lord your God, and ye ſhall rejoyce, &c. 1. Chron. 29. 21. And they ſacrificed ſacrifices unto the Lord, &c. and did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladneſſe, &c.
Verſ. 15. Becauſe the people come unto me to enquire of God.]
That is, to enquire both concerning religious and civill affairs, wherein they are doubtfull what the will of God is.
Verſ. 16. And I do make them know the ſtatutes of God, and his laws.]
That is, I make known to them what the will of God is, and what he hath determined ſhall be done: for though they had not yet the law of God in writing, as afterwards they had when they came to mount Sinai; yet the Church was never without a law, both concerning the duties of Gods worſhip, and their converſing with one another, wherein Moſes informed them when they made any queſtion what the will of God was, either by the direction and inſtinct of Gods ſpirit, or by enquiring of God in caſes that were more difficult, and there ſhewing what anſwer the Lord had given him.
Verſ. 17. And Moſes father in law ſaid unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good, &c.]
Thus was the Lord pleaſed to teach his ſervant Moſes humility, imploying one that was a Midianite to adviſe him better for the well ordering of the civill government then he himſelf could think of.
Verſ. 19. I will give thee counſell, and God ſhall be with thee.]
That is, I make no queſtion but that the bleſſing of God will teſtifie Gods approving this courſe which I ſhall now preſcribe thee.
Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the cauſes unto God.]
That is, matters of leſſe moment, eaſie to be decided, referre to ſome inferiour officers; but in matters of more importance, and greater difficulty, where there is need of one to enquire of God, there do thou ſtill imploy thy ſelf, that is, both in conſulting with God, and then in returning an anſwer to the people.
Verſ. 21. Rulers of thouſands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tennes.]
That is, of ſo many families: The meaning is, that there ſhould be a ruler or judge appointed over every tenne families in each tribe; and ſo another over every fifty families, &c. and ſo by this means a goodly order was to be eſtabliſhed amongſt them, to wit, that every tribune appointed to be judge over a thouſand families had under him ten centurions, that is judges over hundreds; and every centurion had under him two rulers over fifties; and every ruler over fifty had under him five which were ſet over ten families.
Verſ. 23. Then thou ſhalt be able to endure, and all this people ſhall alſo go to their place in peace.]
That is, whereas formerly, when Moſes did all alone, they oft returned their controverſies being undecided, or elſe were conſtrained to attend a long time; now they ſhould be ſoon diſpatched, and ſo go to their place, that is, their ſeverall dwellings or tents, in peace, that is, their controverſies ended, and their minds quieted, &c.
Verſ. 25. And Moſes choſe able men out of all Iſrael, &c.]
To wit, by the peoples conſent, who brought fit men unto him. Deut. 1. 13▪ 14. Take ye wiſe men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. And ye anſwered me and ſaid, The thing which thou hast ſpoken is good for us to do.
Verſ. 27. And Moſes let his father in law depart, &c.]
Though this be here added to conclude the ſtory, yet it doth not follow that he went preſently away: But of this ſee more, Numb. 10. 29.