12 And Jethro, H3503 Moses' H4872 father in law, H2859 took H3947 a burnt offering H5930 and sacrifices H2077 for God: H430 and Aaron H175 came, H935 and all the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 to eat H398 bread H3899 with Moses' H4872 father in law H2859 before H6440 God. H430
And they sacrificed H2076 sacrifices H2077 unto the LORD, H3068 and offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 unto the LORD, H3068 on the morrow H4283 after that day, H3117 even a thousand H505 bullocks, H6499 a thousand H505 rams, H352 and a thousand H505 lambs, H3532 with their drink offerings, H5262 and sacrifices H2077 in abundance H7230 for all Israel: H3478 And did eat H398 and drink H8354 before H6440 the LORD H3068 on that day H3117 with great H1419 gladness. H8057 And they made Solomon H8010 the son H1121 of David H1732 king H4427 the second time, H8145 and anointed H4886 him unto the LORD H3068 to be the chief governor, H5057 and Zadok H6659 to be priest. H3548
And this is the law H8451 of the sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 which he shall offer H7126 unto the LORD. H3068 If he offer H7126 it for a thanksgiving, H8426 then he shall offer H7126 with the sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 unleavened H4682 cakes H2471 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 and unleavened H4682 wafers H7550 anointed H4886 with oil, H8081 and cakes H2471 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 of fine flour, H5560 fried. H7246 Besides the cakes, H2471 he shall offer H7126 for his offering H7133 leavened H2557 bread H3899 with the sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 of his peace offerings. H8002 And of it he shall offer H7126 one H259 out of the whole oblation H7133 for an heave offering H8641 unto the LORD, H3068 and it shall be the priest's H3548 that sprinkleth H2236 the blood H1818 of the peace offerings. H8002 And the flesh H1320 of the sacrifice H2077 of his peace offerings H8002 for thanksgiving H8426 shall be eaten H398 the same day H3117 that it is offered; H7133 he shall not leave H3240 any of it until the morning. H1242 But if the sacrifice H2077 of his offering H7133 be a vow, H5088 or a voluntary offering, H5071 it shall be eaten H398 the same day H3117 that he offereth H7126 his sacrifice: H2077 and on the morrow H4283 also the remainder H3498 of it shall be eaten: H398 But the remainder H3498 of the flesh H1320 of the sacrifice H2077 on the third H7992 day H3117 shall be burnt H8313 with fire. H784
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.