Exodus 4:18-6:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 4:18-23

Here, I. Moses obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt, Exod. 4:18. His father-in-law had been kind to him when he was a stranger, and therefore he would not be so uncivil as to leave his family, nor so unjust as to leave his service, without giving him notice. Note, The honour of being admitted into communion with God, and of being employed for him, does not exempt us from the duties of our relations and callings in this world. Moses said nothing to his father-in-law (for... read more

John Gill

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

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law ,.... With his flock of sheep he kept, Exodus 3:1 , and said unto him: let me go, I pray thee, and return to my brethren which are in Egypt ; the Israelites, who were so by nation and religion; as Jethro had been kind and beneficent to him, he did not choose to leave him without his knowledge and consent, and especially to take away his wife and children without it: and see whether they be yet alive ; it seems by this that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:18

Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren - Moses, having received his commission from God, and directions how to execute it, returned to his father-in-law, and asked permission to visit his family and brethren in Egypt, without giving him any intimation of the great errand on which he was going. His keeping this secret has been attributed to his singular modesty: but however true it might be that Moses was a truly humble and modest man, yet his prudence alone was sufficient to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 4:18

Verse 18 18.And Moses went. It is surprising that Moses should have suppressed the vision whereby the mind of his father-in-law might have been most inclined to let him go; for he speaks merely of human feelings, that he desired to revisit his brethren and relations. Yet it must have been disagreeable to his father-in-law to lose his services, and that diligence and industry by which he had largely profited; nor could it have been pleasant to send away his daughter and grandchildren to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18

My brethren probably means here "my relations" (compare Genesis 13:8 ; Genesis 29:12 ). Moses could scarcely doubt but that some of his countrymen were still living. It would not have been for the interest of the Egyptians to exterminate them. Go in peace means, "you have my leave— I do not oppose your going." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-21

The return. Weeks, perhaps months, intervened between the revelation at the bush and Moses' actual departure from Midian. Time was given for allowing the first agitation of his spirit to subside, for enabling him to take the just measure of the task entrusted to him, for the final overcoming of his involuntary reluctance. An interval is presupposed in Exodus 4:10 —"Neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant," and is implied again here. Events were not yet quite ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-23

True faith and its joy. I. THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH . 1 . Note Moses' swift compliance with God's command. He tarried no longer: "He went and returned, and said, let me go." He does not seek advice. He does not even wait for a convenient opportunity of urging his request. We must wait neither upon time nor men. If God has spoken, we must obey. 2 . His wise reticence. He said nothing of what he had seen and heard. These experiences are a holy place where the soul meets alone... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-25

If Moses had, as we have supposed, been accepted into the Midianitish nation, he would need permission to withdraw himself from the tribal head. This head was now Jether, or Jethro, Moses' connexion by marriage, perhaps his brother-in-law, perhaps a less near connexion. Nations and tribes were at this time anxious to keep up their numbers, and jealous of the desertion even of a single member. Jethro, however, made no opposition to the return of Moses to Egypt, even though he designed to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 4:18-31

Facing Egypt. "And the people believed, and when," etc. ( Exodus 4:31 ). This section of the history may be homiletically treated under three geographical headings, which will keep the historical development prominent, without obscuring the moral and spiritual elements. I. MIDIAN . From Sinai Moses returned to Midian. Reuel now dead, Jethro, probably his son, becomes priest and sheikh of the tribe. [We take Jethro to have been the brother-in-law of Moses. See 'Speaker's... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 4:18

Exodus 4:18. Moses returned to Jethro Justice and decency required Moses to acquaint his father-in-law with his intention of going into Egypt; but he thought fit to conceal from him the errand upon which God sent him, lest he should endeavour to hinder or discourage him from so difficult and dangerous an enterprise. So that Moses, in this instance, has given us a rare example of piety and prudence, in that he took care to avoid all occasions and temptations to disobedience to the divine... read more

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