EXODUS 18: The First Fruits of the Church in the Wilderness
1 And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, 3 with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land” 4 and the name of the other was Eliezer for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”; 5 and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
Moses had sent Zipporah and his sons back, "probably from the inn where his wife’s unwillingness to have her son circumcised had like to have cost him his life, Exodus 4:25.” (Benson Commentary) He sent them back, "either in anger, on account of the scene described in Exodus 4:24-26, or simply that he might not be encumbered with wife and children during the dangers and troubles which he anticipated in Egypt. (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) There was no place for unbelief in the family of Moses- the leader to bring out the children of Israel. But now faith was born in their hearts and they too were ready to join the church of God in the wilderness. Are you ready, my friend!?
"Moses must have his family with him, that while he ruled the church of God, he might set a good example in family government, 1Ti 3:5.” (Henry)
And Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses's father-in-law— "The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call him the prince of Midian, and so the word (praeses) is rendered in some versions; whose daughter Moses had married, and so was his father-in-law— heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people; the miracles he had wrought for them in Egypt, the dividing of the Red sea to make a way for them, the destruction of the Egyptians, providing them with bread and water in such a miraculous manner in the wilderness, and giving them victory over Amalek, and appearing always at the head of them in a pillar of cloud and fire: and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt: which was the greatest blessing of all, and for the sake of which so many wonderful things had been done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. And now Midian being near to Egypt, it is not to be wondered at that Jethro should hear of these things, the fame of which went through all the countries round about, see Exodus 15:14... ” (Gill)
"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).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) But I believe that the exploits of Israel hereto told are the stories that made their way to the ears of Jethro and his family and caused them to exhibit faith and thus desire to take their places with congregation of Israel… and they ALL would arrived at Sinai together. It is such a blessing of God for a family to go to the altar together. What hinders you from joining the others? Cast it aside and go.
"In old times parents often used to give expression to their hopes or their emotions in the names of their children. Very clearly that was the case in Moses’ naming of his two sons, who seem to have been the whole of his family. The significance of each name is appended to it in the text.” (Maclaren) The name of one was Gershom — as a memorial of his own condition in exile from the children of Israel in Midian. And the name of the other was Eliezer; the God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh… as a memorial of his faith that took him back to Egypt. This is the son circumcised at the inn. Thus "it would be better to translate it, 'The Lord is my help, and will deliver me from the sword of Pharaoh', which he had reason to expect would be drawn against him, when he was going to fetch Israel out of bondage.’” (Benson Commentary)
6 Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”
"I your father-in-law Jethro am come to thee… the Targum of Jonathan adds, 'to become a proselyte'; but it seems that before, as well as now, he had been a worshipper of the true God, and always speaks like one that had had the fear of God before him continually [so perhaps he comes to subject himself to Moses’ authority], along with his family..." (Gill’s Exposition), as is proper!
"The Amalekites had met Israel with hostility, as the prototype of the heathen who would strive against the people and kingdom of God. But Jethro, the Midianitish priest, appeared immediately after in the camp of Israel, not only as Moses' father-in-law, to bring back his wife and children, but also with a joyful acknowledgement of all that Jehovah had done to the Israelites in delivering them from Egypt, to offer burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, and to celebrate a sacrificial meal with Moses, Aaron, and all the elders of Israel; so that in the person of Jethro the first-fruits of the heathen, who would hereafter seek the living God, entered into religious fellowship with the people of God. As both the Amalekites and Midianites were descended from Abraham, and stood in blood-relationship to Israel, the different attitudes which they assumed towards the Israelites foreshadowed and typified the twofold attitude which the heathen world would assume towards the kingdom of God… Jethro came to Moses 'into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God.' The mount of God is Horeb (Exodus 3:1);... When Moses sent his wife and sons back to Jethro, he probably stipulated that they were to return to him on the arrival of the Israelites at Horeb. For when God first called Moses at Horeb, He foretold to him that Israel would be brought to this mountain on its deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 3:12).” (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Exodus 18: Hebrew Fellowship
7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how Yahweh had delivered them. 9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which Yahweh had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, “Blessed be Yahweh who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”
"We have a fine example of mutual love and relative affection in Jethro and Moses. Jethro had received the Hebrew exile into his house; but he knew not that he had received the greatest of prophets, and the wisest of kings. He had proved his fidelity as a servant, and rewarded it with the gift of a daughter; now he could rejoice in the highest fruits of his hospitality. How happy when good men, and religious families have known one another for forty years, and can bless God that his providence led them to friendship, and that his grace united their hearts.
By the emancipation of Israel, Jethro’s faith was greatly increased in the belief and worship of the one true and eternal God. He entered into all the wonders of the Lord, and despised the gods of the heathen. How good it is when the heart properly appreciates the mercies of the Lord, and when we can find friends to aid our weakness by their mutual faith. It is good to associate with those whose hearts are full of heaven and full of love.
Mark also the respect with which Moses received his father-in-law. He went to meet and embrace him, and he made him a feast with all the elders of Israel. The Lord had now raised Moses from pastoral life to regal dignity; but he was still a son, and relative duties are not superseded by elevation and honour. Jethro had most kindly received Moses as a stranger; and now Moses wished Jethro to accompany Israel, and to share in the blessings of their covenant. This overture he declined, being a priest of Midian; but where grace prevails in the heart, where happiness reigns in the house, the bonds of religious friendship are so pure, that however distant in situation, the recollection and attachment remain for ever." (Sutcliffe Commentary)
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
Then Jethro took a burnt-offering for God and other sacrifices to offer God. “And probably offered it himself, for he was a priest in Midian, and a worshipper of the true God, and the priesthood was not yet settled in Israel. And they did eat bread before God — Soberly, thankfully, in the fear of God: and their talk was such as became saints. Thus we must eat and drink to the glory of God, as those that believe God’s eye is upon us." (Benson)
"A burnt offering and sacrifices - This verse clearly shows that Jethro was recognized as a priest of the true God, and is of great importance in its bearings upon the relation between the Israelites and their congeners, and upon the state of religion among the descendants of Abraham." (Barnes)
“The burnt offering, which was either of the flock or of the herd, was wholly consumed by fire, from whence it had its name [signifying substitution of life for life in payment for sin]; the peace offering for thanksgiving, which seemed to be meant by the sacrifices here, the flesh of them were to be eaten, Leviticus 7:15 and now a feast was kept….” (Gill) "Eating together in the ancient Near East was a solemn occasion because it constituted the establishment of an alliance between the parties involved. That is undoubtedly what it involved here. The fact that Aaron and all the elders of Israel were also present demonstrated its importance.” (Constable)
John Gill debates "whether Jethro brought cattle along with him for such a purpose, and so ‘gave’ or ‘offered’… or whether, with the leave of Moses and the children of Israel, he took them out of their flocks and herds.” Gill decides "it matters not.” But I think it matters. Later king David when atoning for his sins said '"No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24) They were from Jethro's flock or herd, which Moses had kept in Midian.
The elders ate bread together. "This was a temperate feast; they did eat manna. Jethro must see and taste that bread from heaven..." (Matthew Henry) which typifies Christ, as does the burnt offering and the others!
Evening Repost: Exodus 18: Delegation of Work in the Church
13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.
Jethro saw what Moses had been dealing with since the Exodus from Egypt. "Moses sat to judge the people — To answer inquiries; to acquaint them with the will of God in doubtful cases, and to explain the laws (Torah) of God that were already given.” (Benson Commentary)
"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.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) "This section explains how he overcame the present crisis. It also explains the beginning of Israel's legal system. Here we see how the requirements and instructions of the Mosaic Covenant became accessible to the ordinary Israelite and applicable to the problems that arose as the Israelites oriented their lives to that code...
Clearly Israel already at this time had a body of revealed law [Torah, perhaps the oral tradition, as well as new revelations to the congregation of Israel] (Exodus 18:16; cf. Exodus 15:26)... God [later] greatly expanded this with the giving of the Mosaic Covenant." (Dr.Thomas Constable)
14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”
"Jethro having participated in the joy of Israel, is in return made useful to them by his advice. He saw the fatigue of Moses in judging the people; and advised him..." (Sutcliffe Commentary) Firstly, Moses was to stand before God for them, making intercession. Secondly, he was to teach all of the people "the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do." Finally, Moses was to select judges-- which became the basis for the sanhedrim or national council. These were to be "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness."
But the Sanhedrin was not officially founded until later when "God ordered Moses to choose 70 men from among the elders of Israel and bring them before the Tabernacle... where they would receive the anointing of the Spirit to judge the children of Israel (Numbers 11:16-17). This tribunal came to be known as the Sanhedrin, derived from the Greek word, sunedrion, which literally means, 'sitting together.' The Sanhedrin consisted of 71 members (Moses plus the 70 judges). It served as both the supreme court and legislative body in all matters of Torah law. After the death of Moses, he was succeeded by the leading sage on the council who was given the title, Rosh HaYeshiva, meaning 'Head of the Sitting.' Later, he was simply referred to as 'the President'(Nisi)." (David Reagan)
24 So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 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. 26 So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
"When he came to consider the thing, he saw the reasonableness of it, and resolved to put it in practice... Those are not so wise as they would be thought to be, who think themselves too wise to be counselled; for 'a wise man will hear and will increase learning,' and not slight good counsel...” (Benson)These men of faith were to govern God's people, with Moses as their leader, and responsible party. '"It is better to set a hundred men to work, than do the work of a hundred men. You do a service to a man when you evoke his latent faculty. It is no kindness to others or service to God to do more than your share in the sacred duties of Church life." (D. L. Moody)
27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.
"The present narrative has many parallels with the accounts in Genesis 14, 15. Just as Melchizedek the priest of Salem (salem) met Abraham bearing gifts as he returned from the battle with Amraphel (Genesis 14:18-20), so Jethro the Midianite priest came out with Moses' wife and sons to offer peace (salom, Exodus 18:7; NIV 'they greeted each other') as he returned from the battle with the Amalekites.... The purpose of these parallels appears to be to cast Jethro as another Melchizedek, the paradigm of the righteous Gentile. It is important that Jethro have such credentials because he plays a major role in this chapter, instructing Moses, the lawgiver himself, how to carry out the administration of God's Law to Israel. Thus, just as Abraham was met by Melchizedek the priest (Genesis 14) before God made a covenant with him in Genesis 15, so Moses is met by Jethro the priest (Exodus 18) before God makes a covenant with him at Sinai (Exodus 19)." (Sailhamer, The Pentateuch, pp. 280-81.)