Exodus 18:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 18:19

I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Rather—"And may God be with thee!" May God incline thine heart to accept my counsel and act upon it. Be thou for the people to God-ward , etc. "Continue," i.e; as at present, to be the intermediary between God and the people—still be the whole and sole source of legislative power ( Exodus 18:20 ), and still be the fount and origin of judicial authority; but commit the actual decision of the lighter causes to others chosen by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 18:19

The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee. Men may make a channel for the stream, but they cannot make the stream. Water-power is a grand natural agency; but it is by means of human agency that it may be applied to the best advantage. So also in other matters; power comes from God; the way to use and economise power it is left for man to discover and to act upon. Consider here:— I. THE DIVINE POWER . "God shall be with thee," said Jethro. The history shows how God... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 18:19

Counsel - Jethro draws the distinction between the functions of the legislator and the judge.To God-ward - Literally, “before God,” standing between them and God, both as His minister or representative and also as the representative of the people, their agent, so to speak, or deputy before God. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 18:19-23

Exodus 18:19-23. Be thou for them to God-ward That was an honour in which it was not fit any other should share with him. Also whatever concerned the whole congregation must pass through his hand, Exodus 18:20. But he appointed judges in the several tribes and families, which should try causes between man and man, and determine them, which would be done with less noise and more despatch than in the general assembly. Those whose gifts and stations are most eminent may yet be greatly... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:1-27

Organizing the administration (18:1-27)As the Israelites approached Sinai, Moses’ wife and children joined him. (He had apparently sent them back to Midian for safety during the time of his conflict with Pharaoh.) With them came Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, now a believer in the God of Israel (18:1-12).Moses had a heavy responsibility in leading the people and dealing with their troubles, and Jethro soon saw that it was wearing him out. Up till then, the people brought all their disputes to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 18:17-20

"And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee; be thou for the people to Godward, and bring thou the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 18:19-20

Exodus 18:19-20.— Be thou for the people to God-ward] i.e. "Do thou continue still as the mediator between God and the people, going between them: bringing the causes of the people, or their affairs of consequence, before GOD, and receiving from him those statutes and ordinances, those declarations and decisions, which he shall make known to thee; and which thou, in consequence, shalt notify to them, shewing them the way wherein they must walk, and the work which they must do." For the rest,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 18:13-23

Moses experienced a crisis of overwork (cf. Acts 6:1-7). Previously he had had to cope with a lack of food and a lack of water. 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. [Note: Ibid., p. 248.] Clearly Israel... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:1-27

The Visit of Jethro1. On the name Jethro, see Exodus 2:16, and on Midian, Exodus 2:15. 2. Sent her back] see on Exodus 4:26. 3, 4. See on Exodus 2:22. 5. The mount of God] Horeb or Sinai: see on Exodus 3:1.11. See on Exodus 15:11. The second half of the v. is obscure. RV reads, ’yea, in the thing wherein they (the Egyptians) dealt proudly against them (the Israelites).’ 12. The burnt offering was wholly consumed upon the altar, and signified the complete devotion of the offerer to God: see... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 18:19

(19) God shall be with thee.—Rather, may Go be with thee. May He give thee wisdom to direct the course aright.Be thou for the people to God-ward.—Be the person, i.e., to bring before God whatever needs to be brought before Him. Continue both to act as representative of the people towards God, and as representative of God towards the people. Take all difficult causes to Him, and pronounce to the people His decision upon them. Be also the expounder to the people of God’s laws and ordinances; be... read more

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