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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 18:1-6

This incident may very well be allowed to have happened as it is placed here, before the giving of the law, and not, as some place it, in connection with what is recorded, Num. 10:11, 29 Sacrifices were offered before; in these mentioned here (Exod. 18:12) it is observable that Jethro is said to take them, not Aaron. And as to Jethro's advising Moses to constitute judges under him, though it is intimate (Exod. 18:13) that the occasion of his giving that advice was on the morrow, yet it does... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:1

When 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 F5 כהז "praeses", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. is rendered in some versions; whose daughter Moses had married, and so was his father-in-law, of which see more in Exodus 2:16 . 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:2

Then Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses's wife ,.... When he had heard of the above things, he determined to pay Moses a visit, and congratulate him on that account; and he took his daughter, the wife of Moses, along with him, to deliver her to her husband, to share with him in his cares and troubles; as to partake with him of his honours and dignity, so to bear part with him in his burdens, so far as she was capable of: after he had sent her back : upon his call and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:3

And her two sons ,.... Those also Jethro took along with him and his daughter: of which the name of the one was Gershom ; which seems to be his firstborn, Exodus 2:22 , his name signifies a desolate stranger, as some, or, "there I was a stranger": the reason of which name follows agreeably thereunto: for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land ; meaning, not the land of Egypt, where he was born, and had lived forty years; but in the land of Midian, where he was when this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:4

And the name of the other was Eliezer ,.... Who seems to be his second son, and was that which was circumcised by Zipporah at the inn, and about which there was such a stir, Exodus 4:24 , and signifies "my God is help", or, his helper: for the God of my father, said he , was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh ; who, on hearing that Moses had killed an Egyptian, was wroth with him, and sought to slay him; and perhaps drew his sword for that purpose, but was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:5

And Jethro, Moses's father in law ,.... This is the third time he is so called in the chapter already, and many more times besides after in it; the reason of which seems to be, either to distinguish him from another of the same name, or to do him honour, that he should be in such a relation to so great and distinguished a man as Moses now was: came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness ; not with his own sons and wife, but with the sons and wife of Moses; Zipporah and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:1

When Jethro, the priest of Midian, etc. - Concerning this person and his several names, See Clarke's note on Exodus 2:15 , See Clarke's note on Exodus 2:16 , See Clarke's note on Exodus 2:18 , See Clarke's note on Exodus 3:1 , See Clarke's note on Exodus 4:20 , See Clarke's note on Exodus 4:24 . Jethro was probably the son of Reuel, the father-in-law of Moses, and consequently the brother-in-law of Moses; for the word חתן chothen , which we translate father-in-law, in this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:2

After he had sent her back - Why Zipporah and her two sons returned to Midian, is not certainly known. From the transaction recorded Exodus 4:20 , Exodus 4:24 , it seems as if she had been alarmed at the danger to which the life of one of her sons had been exposed, and fearing worse evils, left her husband and returned to her father. It is however possible that Moses, foreseeing the troubles to which his wife and children were likely to be exposed had he taken them down to Egypt, sent... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:3

The name of the one was Gershom - See Clarke's note on Exodus 2:22 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:5

Jethro - came with his sons - There are several reasons to induce us to believe that the fact related here is out of its due chronological order, and that Jethro did not come to Moses till the beginning of the second year of the exodus, (see Numbers 10:11 ;), some time after the tabernacle had been erected, and the Hebrew commonwealth established, both in things civil and ecclesiastical. This opinion is founded on the following reasons: - On this verse, where it is said that Jethro came... read more

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