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Text -- Exodus 18:5 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
18:5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camping by the mountain of God.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Moses a son of Amram; the Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them The Law of Moses,a Levite who led Israel out of Egypt and gave them the law


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Zipporah | WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL | PENTATEUCH, 2B | Moses | JETHRO | ISRAEL, RELIGION OF, 1 | ISRAEL, HISTORY OF, 1 | Hobab | Heathen | EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 2 | COURTS, JUDICIAL | BLINDNESS, JUDICIAL | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: Exo 18:1-5 - -- 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 Isr...

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 (Exo 19:1-2; compare Deu 1:6, Deu 1:9-15).

Clarke: Exo 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, an...

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 Num 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: -

1.    On this verse, where it is said that Jethro came to Moses while he was encamped at the mount of God. Now it appears, from Exo 19:1, Exo 19:2, that they were not yet come to Horeb, the mount of God, and that they did not arrive there till the third month after their departure from Egypt; and the transactions with which this account is connected certainly took place in the second month; see Exo 16:1

2.    Moses, in Deu 1:6, Deu 1:9, Deu 1:10, Deu 1:12-15, relates that when they were about to depart from Horeb, which was on the 20th day of the second month of the second year from their leaving Egypt, that he then complained that he was not able to bear the burden alone of the government of a people so numerous; and that it was at that time that he established judges and captains over thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens, which appears to be the very transaction recorded in this place; the measure itself being recommended by Jethro, and done in consequence of his advice

3.    From Num 10:11, Num 10:29, etc., we find that when the cloud was taken up, and the Israelites were about to depart from Horeb, that Moses addressed Hobab, who is supposed to have been the same as Jethro, and who then was about to return to Midian, his own country, entreating him to stay with them as a guide while they traveled through the wilderness. It therefore seems necessary that the transaction recorded in this chapter should be inserted Numbers 10 between the 10th and 11th verses. Num 10:10-11

4.    It has been remarked, that shortly after they had departed from Sinai the dispute took place between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, concerning the Ethiopian woman Zipporah whom he had married, (see Num 12:1, etc.); and this is supposed to have taken place shortly after she had been brought back by Jethro

5.    In the discourse between Moses and Jethro, mentioned in this chapter, we find that Moses speaks of the statutes and laws of the Lord as things already revealed and acknowledged, which necessarily implies that these laws had already been given, (Exo 18:16), which we know did not take place till several months after the transactions mentioned in the preceding chapters

6.    Jethro offers burnt-offerings and sacrifices to God apparently in that way in which they were commanded in the law. Now the law respecting burnt-offerings was not given till after the transactions mentioned here, unless we refer this chapter to a time posterior to that in which it appears in this place. See Clarke’ s note on Exo 18:12

From all these reasons, but particularly from the two first and the two last, it seems most likely that this chapter stands out of its due chronological order, and therefore I have adjusted the chronology in the margin to the time in which, from the reasons above alleged, I suppose these transactions to have taken place; but the matter is not of much importance, and the reader is at liberty to follow the common opinion. As Moses had in the preceding chapter related the war with Amalek and the curse under which they were laid, he may be supposed to have introduced here the account concerning Jethro the Midianite, to show that he was free from that curse, although the Midianites and the Kenites, the family of Jethro, were as one people, dwelling with the Amalekites. See Jdg 1:16; 1Ch 2:55; 1Sa 15:6. For although the Kenites were some of those people whose lands God had promised to the descendants of Abraham, (see Gen 15:18, Gen 15:19), yet, in consideration of Jethro, the relative of Moses, all of them who submitted to the Hebrews were suffered to live in their own country; the rest are supposed to have taken refuge among the Edomites and Amalekites. See Calmet, Locke, etc.

Calvin: Exo 18:5 - -- 5.And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law It was not so much love for Moses as the fame of the miracles which drew this old man, 195 bowed down with age, ...

5.And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law It was not so much love for Moses as the fame of the miracles which drew this old man, 195 bowed down with age, from his home into the wilderness; for it will hereafter appear from the context, that he was not induced by ambition; because, after he had offered sacrifice to God, and, in solemn thanksgiving, had testified that he ascribed all the glory to God alone, he returned home again with the same simplicity in which he had come. Moses, too, at the beginning of the chapter, has stated the cause of his coming, for he does not say that he had heard of the arrival of his son-in-law, but how wonderful had been God’s goodness and power in delivering Moses and the people. He desired, therefore, to be in some measure a spectator of the things whereof he had heard, and not to neglect, by remaining at home, such illustrious instances of God’s bounty. I have already explained why Mount Horeb is distinguished by the name of “the Mount of God.” The vision, indeed, which had been already vouchsafed to Moses there, rendered it worthy of this honorable title; but here, as before, there is reference made rather to the promulgation of the Law, whereby God consecrated the mountain to Himself.

TSK: Exo 18:5 - -- Exo 3:1, Exo 3:12, Exo 19:11, Exo 19:20, Exo 24:16, Exo 24:17; 1Ki 19:8

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Exo 18:5 - -- The wilderness - i. e., according to the view which seems on the whole most probable, the plain near the northern summit of Horeb, the mountain...

The wilderness - i. e., according to the view which seems on the whole most probable, the plain near the northern summit of Horeb, the mountain of God. The valley which opens upon Er Rahah on the left of Horeh is called "Wady Shueib"by the Arabs, i. e. the vale of Hobab.

Poole: Exo 18:5 - -- Jethro came not at this time, but after the delivery of the law at Mount Sinai; as it may appear, 1. Because he finds them encamped, as it here foll...

Jethro came not at this time, but after the delivery of the law at Mount Sinai; as it may appear,

1. Because he finds them encamped, as it here follows, at the mount of God, i.e. Sinai, whither they came not till Exo 19:2 .

2. Because the laws of sacrifices were given before his coming, as appears from Exo 18:12 .

3. Because the execution of this counsel here given about the choice of magistrates, Exo 18:19 , is related after the Israelites’ departure from Sinai, Deu 1:7 , &c. And therefore here is a transposal in this history, which is also frequent in other places of Holy Scripture.

Haydock: Exo 18:5 - -- Mountain. Horeb, (chap. iii. 1,) or Sinai. (Menochius)

Mountain. Horeb, (chap. iii. 1,) or Sinai. (Menochius)

Gill: Exo 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 rea...

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 her sons, as before related; with those he came into the wilderness of Arabia, where Moses now was, and which was not at a great distance from Midian, since about the same spot Moses, when he dwelt there, had, and fed the flock of his father-in-law, Exo 3:1, that part of the land of Midian where Jethro lived lay somewhere eastward of Mount Sinai, and was probably situated where Sharme now stands; which, according to Dr. Pocock i, is about a day and a half's journey from Mount Sinai, from whence the monks of Mount Sinai are chiefly supplied with fish k: it follows: where he encamped at the mount of God: at Horeb, where the Lord had appeared to Moses; and so the Targum of Jonathan adds,"where the glory of the Lord was revealed to Moses at the beginning;''and where, afterwards, the Lord, appeared again, and gave the law, and therefore is called the Mount of God; the one as well as the other being past when Moses wrote this book, and called the mountain by this name: it is matter of question at what time Jethro came hither, whether before or after the giving of the law: it seems, by the order in which this story is here placed, as if it was immediately after the battle with Amalek; and Saadiah Gaon is of opinion it was before the giving of the law; and one would think it most reasonable and natural that Jethro would take the first opportunity of visiting Moses, and that Moses would not long defer sending for his wife and children: but Aben Ezra thinks he did not come till the second year after the tabernacle was set up, since, in the context, mention is made of burnt offerings and sacrifices, and no account is given of a new altar built by Moses; and besides, he says, "I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws", Exo 18:16, and it is certain from hence, that the children of Israel were removed from Rephidim, and were now encamped at the mount of God, at Horeb; but whether they had got to the other side of the mount of Sinai as yet is not so clear; though it looks as if what Moses did, by the advice of Jethro, was after the law was given on Sinai, see Deu 1:6 so that, upon the whole, it seems as if this account, according to the order of time, should be placed after Num 10:28, or, as Dr. Lightfoot l thinks, between the tenth and eleventh verses of that chapter, and is put here to show that though Midian was near Amalek, as he observes, yet Jethro was exempt from the curse and destruction threatened to that, see 1Sa 15:6.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Exo 18:5 The mountain of God is Horeb, and so the desert here must be the Sinai desert by it. But chap. 19 suggests that they left Rephidim to go the 24 miles ...

Geneva Bible: Exo 18:5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the ( b ) mount of God: ( b ) ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Exo 18:1-27 - --1 Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses.7 Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord.9 Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers...

MHCC: Exo 18:1-6 - --Jethro came to rejoice with Moses in the happiness of Israel, and to bring his wife and children to him. Moses must have his family with him, that whi...

Matthew Henry: Exo 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...

Keil-Delitzsch: Exo 18:1-5 - -- The Amalekites had met Israel with hostility, as the prototype of the heathen who would strive against the people and kingdom of God. But Jethro, th...

Constable: Exo 15:22--Lev 1:1 - --II. THE ADOPTION OF ISRAEL 15:22--40:38 The second major section of Exodus records the events associated with Go...

Constable: Exo 18:1-27 - --5. The friendliness of Jethro the Midianite ch. 18 As a Midianite, Jethro was a descendant of Abraham as was Amalek. Both were blood relatives of the ...

Guzik: Exo 18:1-27 - --Exodus 18 - Jethro's Counsel to Moses A. Jethro and Moses meet. 1. (1-6) Moses meets with Jethro, his father-in-law, in the desert of Midian. And ...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Exodus (Book Introduction) EXODUS, a "going forth," derives its name from its being occupied principally with a relation of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and the i...

JFB: Exodus (Outline) INCREASE OF THE ISRAELITES. (Exo. 1:1-22) BIRTH AND PRESERVATION OF MOSES. (Exo 2:1-10) there went a man of the house of Levi, &c. Amram was the hus...

TSK: Exodus (Book Introduction) The title of this Book is derived from the Septuagint; in which it is called ΕΞΟΔΟΣ , " Exodus;" or, as it is in the Codex Alexandrinus, Ε...

TSK: Exodus 18 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Exo 18:1, Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses; Exo 18:7, Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord; Exo 18:9, J...

Poole: Exodus (Book Introduction) SECOND BOOK OF MOSES CALLED EXODUS. THE ARGUMENT. AFTER the death of Joseph, who had sent for his father’ s house into Egypt, the children o...

Poole: Exodus 18 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 18 Jethro cometh to Moses with his wife and his children; their names, Exo 18:1-5 . Moses going to meet his father, does obeisance, Exo 18:...

MHCC: Exodus (Book Introduction) The Book of Exodus relates the forming of the children of Israel into a church and a nation. We have hitherto seen true religion shown in domestic lif...

MHCC: Exodus 18 (Chapter Introduction) (Exo 18:1-6) Jethro brings to Moses his wife and two sons. (Exo 18:7-12) Moses entertains Jethro. (Exo 18:13-27) Jethro's counsel to Moses.

Matthew Henry: Exodus (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Second Book of Moses, Called Exodus Moses (the servant of the Lord in writing for him as well as ...

Matthew Henry: Exodus 18 (Chapter Introduction) This chapter is concerning Moses himself, and the affairs of his own family. I. Jethro his father-in-law brings to him his wife and children (Exo ...

Constable: Exodus (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The Hebrew title of this book (we'elleh shemot) originated from the...

Constable: Exodus (Outline) Outline I. The liberation of Israel 1:1-15:21 A. God's preparation of Israel and Moses chs. ...

Constable: Exodus Exodus Bibliography Adams, Dwayne H. "The Building Program that Works (Exodus 25:4--36:7 [31:1-11])." Exegesis ...

Haydock: Exodus (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. INTRODUCTION. The second Book of Moses is called Exodus from the Greek word Exodos, which signifies going out; becaus...

Gill: Exodus (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS This book is called by the Jews Veelleh Shemoth, from the first words with which it begins, and sometimes Sepher Shemoth, an...

Gill: Exodus 18 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 18 This chapter gives an account of Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, with Zipporah his daughter, the wife of Moses, and her tw...

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