Exodus 18:13-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 18:13-27

Here is, I. The great zeal and industry of Moses as a magistrate. 1. Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage, herein he is a further type of Christ, that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them. (1.) He was to answer enquiries, to acquaint them with the will of God in doubtful cases, and to explain the laws of God that were already given them, concerning the sabbath, the man, etc., beside the laws of nature, relating both to piety and equity, Exod. 18:15.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:13

And it came to pass on the morrow ,.... The above Targum paraphrases it,"on the day after the day of atonement:'and so Jarchi observes the same, out of a book of theirs called Siphri; but rather this was either the day after the entertainment of Jethro with Aaron and the elders in the tent of Moses, or the day after Jethro's coming, as Aben Ezra: that Moses sat to judge the people ; though his father-in-law was come to visit him, yet he did not neglect the care of his people, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:14

And when Moses's father in law saw all that he did to the people ,.... Or for them F17 לעם "propter populum" Vatablus. ; for their information and instruction in the laws of God, and for the decision of cases brought before him, according to them; and what a deal of business was on his hands, and he went through for the good of the people: he said, what is this thing that thou doest to the people ? this question he put, not as being ignorant what he did, he saw what he did, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:15

And Moses said unto his father in law ,.... In answer to his question; and there were two things, as Aben Ezra observes, he did to the people, and for which they came to him; the one is observed in this verse, and the other in the next: because the people come unto me to inquire of God ; of his mind and will in certain cases, and of his statutes and laws, as the following verse shows; what they should observe, and according to which they should conduct themselves: they came to inquire... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:16

When they have a matter, they come unto me ,.... This is the other thing he did for them, as the above writer observes; which being last mentioned, he speaks of first, as follows, meaning that when there was a matter in difference between two persons or more, and they could not agree upon it among themselves, then they brought it to him to be heard and decided: and I judge between one and another ; hear what they have to say on both sides, and then judge which is in the right and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:17

And Moses's father in law said unto him ,.... Having observed what he did, and heard his answer to the question he put to him: the thing that thou doest is not good ; not meaning that it was not morally good, or that it was morally evil; for it was certainly a good thing to inquire of the mind and will of God for the people, and to hear and decide matters in controversy between them, and do justice to both parties; but it was not good for the health of Moses; it was not commodious and... read more

John Gill

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

Thou wilt surely wear away ,.... His natural strength and animal spirits, and so his flesh; he feared his constant application and attendance to business would impair his health, break his constitution, and bring him into a consumption. Moses was naturally of a strong and vigorous constitution; for, forty years after this, even to the time of his death, his natural force was not abated; or "fading thou wilt fade", or, "falling thou wilt fall" F18 נבל תבל "marcescendo marcesses",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:19

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel ,.... Jethro being the elder man, and of some character and figure, being either a priest or prince of Midian, or both, might, without incurring a censure, take upon him to give advice to Moses, a younger man, and his son-in-law, though he was superior to him in office and in parts; and especially since his advice proceeded from a sincere and cordial regard for his health and welfare: and God shall be with thee : and succeed the advice... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:20

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws ,.... Both with respect to things civil and religious, which he should receive from God: and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk ; the path of faith and duty, the way of truth, holiness, and righteousness: and the work that they must do ; both with respect to God, and one another, the various duties and exercises of religion, everything relating to their moral, religious, and civil conduct. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:21

Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people ,.... Or look out F20 from among them; see Acts 6:3 , able men ; or "men of power" F21 ; meaning not so much men of strong and robust constitutions, who, as Aben Ezra says, are able to bear labour; but men that have strength of heart, as Ben Gersom expresses it, men of spirit and courage, and are not afraid to do justice, to repress vice, and countenance virtue; or, as Maimonides says F23 Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect.... read more

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