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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is concerning Moses himself, and the affairs of his own
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family.
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I. Jethro his father-in-law brings to him his wife and children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. Moses entertains his father-in-law with great respect
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:7">ver. 7</A>),
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with good discourse
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:8-11">ver. 8-11</A>),
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with a sacrifice and a feast,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:12">ver. 12</A>.
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III. Jethro advises him about the management of his business as a judge
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in Israel, to take inferior judges in to his assistance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:13-23">ver. 13-23</A>),
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and Moses, after some time, takes his counsel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:24-26">ver. 24-26</A>),
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and so they part,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:27">ver. 27</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex18_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jethro's Visit to Moses.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law,
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heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his
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people, <I>and</I> that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had brought Israel out of Egypt;
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2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses'
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wife, after he had sent her back,
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3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one <I>was</I> Gershom;
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for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
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4 And the name of the other <I>was</I> Eliezer; for the God of my
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father, <I>said he, was</I> mine help, and delivered me from the sword
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of Pharaoh:
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5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his
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wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the
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mount of God:
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6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come
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unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This incident may very well be allowed to have happened as it is placed
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here, before the giving of the law, and not, as some place it, in
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connection with what is recorded,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+10:11,29">Num. x. 11, 29</A>,
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&c. Sacrifices were offered before; in these mentioned here
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
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it is observable that <I>Jethro</I> is said to take them, not
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<I>Aaron.</I> And as to Jethro's advising Moses to constitute judges
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under him, though it is intimate
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
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that the occasion of his giving that advice was <I>on the morrow,</I>
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yet it does not follow but that Moses's settlement of that affair might
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be some time after, when the law was given, as it is placed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+1:9">Deut. i. 9</A>.
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It is plain that Jethro himself would not have him make this alteration
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in the government till he had received instructions from God about it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
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which he did not till some time after. Jethro comes,</P>
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<P>
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I. To congratulate the happiness of Israel, and particularly the honour
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of Moses his son-in-law; and now Jethro thinks himself well paid for
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all the kindness he had shown to Moses in his distress, and his
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daughter better matched than he could have expected. Jethro could not
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but hear what all the country rang of, the glorious appearances of God
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for his people Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
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and he comes to enquire, and inform himself more fully thereof (see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+111:2">Ps. cxi. 2</A>),
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and to rejoice with them as one that had a true respect both for them
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and for their God. Though he, as a Midianite, was not to share with
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them in the promised land, yet he shared with them in the joy of their
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deliverance. We may thus make the comforts of others our own, by taking
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pleasure, as God does, in the <I>prosperity of the righteous.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. To bring Moses's wife and children to him. It seems, he had sent
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them back, probably from the inn where his wife's aversion to the
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circumcision of her son had like to have cost him his life
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+4:25"><I>ch.</I> iv. 25</A>);
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fearing lest they should prove a further hindrance, he sent them home
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to his father-in-law. He foresaw what discouragements he was likely to
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meet with in the court of Pharaoh, and therefore would not take any
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with him in his own family. He was of that tribe that said to his
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father, <I>I have not known him,</I> when service was to be done for
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God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:9">Deut. xxxiii. 9</A>.
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Thus Christ's disciples, when they were to go upon an expedition not
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much unlike that of Moses, were to forsake <I>wife and children,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:29">Matt. xix. 29</A>.
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But though there might be reason for the separation that was between
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Moses and his wife for a time, yet they must come together again, as
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soon as ever they could with any convenience. It is the law of the
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relation. <I>You husbands, dwell with your wives,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:7">1 Pet. iii. 7</A>.
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Jethro, we may suppose, was glad of his daughter's company, and fond of
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her children, yet he would not keep her from her husband, nor them from
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their father,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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Moses must have his family with him, that while he ruled the church of
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God he might set a good example of prudence in family-government,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:5">1 Tim. iii. 5</A>.
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Moses had now a great deal both of honour and care put upon him, and it
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was fit that his wife should be with him to share with him in both.
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Notice is taken of the significant names of his two sons.
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1. The eldest was called <I>Gershom</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>a stranger,</I> Moses designing thereby, not only a memorial of his
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own condition, but a memorandum to his son of his condition also: for
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we are all strangers upon earth, as all our fathers were. Moses had a
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great uncle almost of the same name, <I>Gershon, a stranger;</I> for
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though he was born in Canaan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+46:11">Gen. xlvi. 11</A>),
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yet even there the patriarchs confessed themselves strangers.
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2. The other he called <I>Eliezer</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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<I>My God a help,</I> as we translate it; it looks back to his
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deliverance from Pharaoh, when he made his escape, after the slaying of
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the Egyptian; but, if this was (as some think) the son that was
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circumcised at the inn as he was going, I would rather translate it so
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as to look forward, which the original will bear, <I>The Lord is my
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help, and will deliver me</I> from the sword of Pharaoh, which he had
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reason to expect would be drawn against him when he was going to fetch
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Israel out of bondage. Note, When we are undertaking any difficult
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service for God and our generation, it is good for us to encourage
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ourselves in God as our help: he that has delivered does and will
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deliver.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex18_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex18_12"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did
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obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of <I>their</I>
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welfare; and they came into the tent.
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8 And Moses told his father in law all that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had done
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unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, <I>and</I> all
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the travail that had come upon them by the way, and <I>how</I> the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> delivered them.
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9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had
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done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the
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Egyptians.
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10 And Jethro said, Blessed <I>be</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, who hath delivered
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you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of
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Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the
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Egyptians.
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11 Now I know that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> greater than all gods: for in
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the thing wherein they dealt proudly <I>he was</I> above them.
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12 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and
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sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel,
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to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe here,
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I. The kind greeting that took place between Moses and his
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father-in-law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Though Moses was a prophet of the Lord, a great prophet, and king in
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Jeshurun, yet he showed a very humble respect to his father-in-law.
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However God in his providence is pleased to advance us, we must make
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conscience of giving honour to whom honour is due, and never look with
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disdain upon our poor relations. Those that stand high in the favour of
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God are not thereby discharged from the duty they owe to men, nor will
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that justify them in a stately haughty carriage. Moses went out to meet
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Jethro, did <I>homage to him, and kissed him.</I> Religion does not
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destroy good manners. <I>They asked each other of their welfare.</I>
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Even the kind How-do-you-do's that pass between them are taken notice
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of, as the expressions and improvements of mutual love and
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friendship.</P>
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<P>
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II. The narrative that Moses gave his father-in-law of the great things
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God had done for Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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This was one thing Jethro came for, to know more fully and particularly
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what he had heard the general report of. Note, Conversation concerning
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<I>God's wondrous works</I> is profitable conversation; it is <I>good,
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and to the use of edifying,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:2">Ps. cv. 2</A>.
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Compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:11,12">Ps. cxlv. 11, 12</A>.
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Asking and telling news, and discoursing of it, are not only an
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allowable entertainment of conversation, but are capable of being tuned
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to a very good account, by taking notice of God's providence, and the
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operations and tendencies of that providence, in all occurrences.</P>
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<P>
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III. The impressions this narrative made upon Jethro.
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1. He congratulated God's Israel: <I>Jethro rejoiced,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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He not only rejoiced in the honour done to his son-in-law, but in
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<I>all the goodness done to Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Note, Public blessings are the joy of public spirits. While the
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Israelites were themselves murmuring, notwithstanding all God's
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goodness to them, here was a Midianite rejoicing. This was not the only
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time that the faith of the Gentiles shamed the unbelief of the Jews;
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see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+8:10">Matt. viii. 10</A>.
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Standers-by were more affected with the favours God had shown to Israel
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than those were that received them.
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2. He gave the glory to Israel's God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>Blessed be Jehovah</I>" (for by that name he is now known), "<I>who
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hath delivered you,</I> Moses and Aaron, <I>out of the hand of
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Pharaoh,</I> so that though he designed your death he could not effect
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it, and by your ministry has <I>delivered the people.</I>" Note,
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Whatever we have the joy of God must have the praise of.
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3. His faith was hereby confirmed, and he took this occasion to make a
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solemn profession of it: <I>Now know I that Jehovah is greater than all
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gods,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Observe,
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(1.) The matter of his faith: that the God of Israel is greater than
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all pretenders, all false and counterfeit-deities, that usurp divine
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honours; he silences them, subdues them, and is too hard for them all,
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and therefore is himself the only <I>living and true God.</I> He is
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also higher than all princes and potentates (who are called gods), and
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has both an incontestable authority over them and an irresistible power
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to control and over-rule them; he manages them all as he pleases, and
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gets honour upon them, how great soever they are.
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(2.) The confirmation and improvement of his faith: <I>Now know I;</I>
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he knew it before, but now he knew it better; his faith great up to a
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full assurance, upon this fresh evidence. Those obstinately shut their
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eyes against the clearest light who do not know that <I>the Lord is
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greater than all gods.</I>
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(3.) The ground and reason upon which he built it: <I>For wherein they
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dealt proudly,</I> the magicians, and the idols which the Egyptians
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worshipped, or Pharaoh and his grandees (they both opposed God and set
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up in competition with him), <I>he was above them.</I> The magicians
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were baffled, the idols shaken, Pharaoh humbled, his powers broken,
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and, in spite of all their confederacies, God's Israel was rescued out
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of their hands. Note, Sooner or later, God will show himself above
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those that by their proud dealings contest with him. He that <I>exalts
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himself</I> against God <I>shall be abased.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. The expressions of their joy and thankfulness. They had communion
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with each other both in a feast and in a sacrifice,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Jethro, being hearty in Israel's interests, was cheerfully admitted
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though a Midianite, into fellowship with Moses and the elders of
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Israel, <I>forasmuch as he also was a son of Abraham,</I> though of a
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younger house.
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1. They joined in a sacrifice of thanksgiving: <I>Jethro took burnt
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offerings for God,</I> and probably offered them himself, for he was a
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priest in Midian, and a worshipper of the true God, and the priesthood
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was not yet settled in Israel. Note, Mutual friendship is sanctified by
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joint-worship. It is a very good thing for relations and friends, when
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they come together, to join in the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and
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praise, as those that meet in Christ the centre of unity.
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2. They joined in a feast of rejoicing, a feast upon the sacrifice.
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Moses, upon this occasion, invited his relations and friends to an
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entertainment in his own tent, a laudable usage among friends, and
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which Christ himself, not only warranted, but recommended, by his
|
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acceptance of such invitations. This was a temperate feast: <I>They did
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eat bread;</I> this bread, we may suppose, was manna. Jethro must see
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and taste that bread from heaven, and, though a Gentile, is as welcome
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to it as any Israelite; the Gentiles still are so to Christ the bread
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of life. It was a feast kept after a godly sort: <I>They did eat bread
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before God,</I> soberly, thankfully, in the fear of God; and their
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table-talk was such as became saints. Thus we must eat and drink to the
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glory of God, behaving ourselves at our tables as those who believe
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that God's eye is upon us.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex18_13"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Jethro's Advice to Moses.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge
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the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto
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the evening.
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14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the
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people, he said, What <I>is</I> this thing that thou doest to the
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people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand
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|
by thee from morning unto even?
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15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people
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come unto me to enquire of God:
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16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge
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between one and another, and I do make <I>them</I> know the statutes
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of God, and his laws.
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17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou
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doest <I>is</I> not good.
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18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that
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|
<I>is</I> with thee: for this thing <I>is</I> too heavy for thee; thou art
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|
not able to perform it thyself alone.
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19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God
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|
shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou
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|
mayest bring the causes unto God:
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|
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt
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|
show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they
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|
must do.
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21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men,
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|
such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place
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|
<I>such</I> over them, <I>to be</I> rulers of thousands, <I>and</I> rulers of
|
|
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
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|
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall
|
|
be, <I>that</I> every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but
|
|
every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for
|
|
thyself, and they shall bear <I>the burden</I> with thee.
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|
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee <I>so,</I> then
|
|
thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go
|
|
to their place in peace.
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|
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and
|
|
did all that he had said.
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|
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them
|
|
heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds,
|
|
rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
|
|
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes
|
|
they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged
|
|
themselves.
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27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way
|
|
into his own land.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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|
Here is,
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|
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I. The great zeal and industry of Moses as a magistrate.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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|
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, &c., beside the laws of
|
|
nature, relating both to piety and equity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>They came to enquire of God;</I> and happy it was for them that they
|
|
had such an oracle to consult: we are ready to wish, many a time, that
|
|
we had some such certain way of knowing God's mind when we are at a
|
|
loss what to do. Moses was faithful both to him that appointed him and
|
|
to those that consulted him, and made them <I>know the statutes of God
|
|
and his laws,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
His business was, not to make laws, but to make known God's laws; his
|
|
place was but that of a servant.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He was to decide controversies, and determine matters in variance,
|
|
judging between a man and his fellow,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
And, if the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were
|
|
with God, no doubt he had a great many causes brought before him, and
|
|
the more because their trials put them to no expense, nor was the law
|
|
costly to them. When a quarrel happened in Egypt, and Moses would have
|
|
reconciled the contenders, they asked, <I>Who made thee a prince and a
|
|
judge?</I> But now it was past dispute that God had made him one; and
|
|
they humbly attend him whom they had then proudly rejected.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Such was the business Moses was called to, and it appears that he
|
|
did it,
|
|
|
|
(1.) With great consideration, which, some think, is intimated in his
|
|
posture: he <I>sat</I> to judge
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
composed and sedate.
|
|
|
|
(2.) With great condescension to the people, who stood <I>by him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was very easy of access; the meanest Israelite was welcome himself
|
|
to bring his cause before him.
|
|
|
|
(3.) With great constancy and closeness of application.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Though Jethro, his father-in-law, was with him, which might have
|
|
given him a good pretence for a vacation (he might have adjourned the
|
|
court for that day, or at least have shortened it), yet he sat, even
|
|
the next day after his coming, <I>from morning till evening.</I> Note,
|
|
Necessary business must always take place of ceremonious attentions. It
|
|
is too great a compliment to our friends to prefer the enjoyment of
|
|
their company before our duty to God, which ought to be done, while yet
|
|
the other is not left undone.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Though Moses was advanced to great honour, yet he did not
|
|
therefore take his case and throw upon others the burden of care and
|
|
business; no, he thought his preferment, instead of discharging him
|
|
from service, made it more obligatory upon him. Those think of
|
|
themselves above what is meet who think it below them to do good. It is
|
|
the honour even of angels themselves to be serviceable.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Though the people had been provoking to him, and were ready to
|
|
stone him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+17:4"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet still he made himself the servant of all. Note, Though others fail
|
|
in their duty to us, yet we must not therefore neglect ours to them.
|
|
|
|
[4.] Though he was an old man, yet he kept to his business from morning
|
|
to night, and made it his meat and drink to do it. God had given him
|
|
great strength both of body and mind, which enabled him to go through a
|
|
great deal of work with ease and pleasure; and, for the encouragement
|
|
of others to spend and be spent in the service of God, it proved that
|
|
after all his labours his natural force was not diminished. Those that
|
|
wait on the Lord and his service shall renew their strength.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The great prudence and consideration of Jethro as a friend.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He disliked the method that Moses took, and was so free with him as
|
|
to tell him so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:14,17,18"><I>v.</I> 14, 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He thought it was too much business for Moses to undertake alone, that
|
|
it would be a prejudice to his health and too great a fatigue to him,
|
|
and also that it would make the administration of justice tiresome to
|
|
the people; and therefore he tells him plainly, <I>It is not good.</I>
|
|
Note, There may be over-doing even in well-doing, and therefore our
|
|
zeal must always be governed by discretion, that our good may not be
|
|
evil spoken of. Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither
|
|
content ourselves with less than our duty nor over-task ourselves with
|
|
that which is beyond our strength.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He advised him to such a model of government as would better answer
|
|
the intention, which was,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he should reserve to himself all applications to God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Be thou for them to God-ward;</I> that was an honour in which it was
|
|
not fit any other should share with him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+12:6-8">Num. xii. 6-8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Also whatever concerned the whole congregation in general must pass
|
|
through his hand,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he should appoint judges in the several tribes and families,
|
|
who 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 wherein Moses himself presided. Thus they must be governed as
|
|
a nation by a king as supreme, and inferior magistrates sent and
|
|
commissioned by him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:13">1 Pet. ii. 13, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus many hands would make light work, causes would be sooner heard,
|
|
and the people eased by having justice thus brought to their
|
|
tent-doors. Yet,
|
|
|
|
(3.) An appeal might lie, if there were just cause for it, from these
|
|
inferior courts to Moses himself; at least if the judges were
|
|
themselves at a loss: <I>Every great matter they shall bring unto
|
|
thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus that great man would be the more serviceable by being employed
|
|
only in great matters. Note, Those whose gifts and stations are most
|
|
eminent may yet be greatly furthered in their work by the assistance of
|
|
those that are every way their inferiors, whom therefore they should
|
|
not despise. The head has need of the hands and feet,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:21">1 Cor. xii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive
|
|
how to make others useful, according as their capacity is. Such is
|
|
Jethro's advice, by which it appears that though Moses excelled him in
|
|
prophecy he excelled Moses in politics; yet,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He adds two qualifications to his counsel:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) That great care should be taken in the choice of the persons who
|
|
should be admitted into this trust
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>);
|
|
|
|
they must <I>be able men,</I> &c. It was requisite that they should be
|
|
men of the very best character,
|
|
|
|
[1.] For judgment and resolution--<I>able men,</I> men of good sense,
|
|
that understood business, and bold men, that would not be daunted by
|
|
frowns or clamours. Clear heads and stout hearts make good judges.
|
|
|
|
[2.] For piety and religion--<I>such as fear God,</I> as believe there
|
|
is a God above them, whose eye is upon them, to whom they are
|
|
accountable, and of whose judgment they stand in awe. Conscientious
|
|
men, that dare not do a base thing, though they could do it ever so
|
|
secretly and securely. The fear of God is that principle which will
|
|
best fortify a man against all temptations to injustice,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+5:15,Ge+42:18">Neh. v. 15; Gen. xlii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] For integrity and honesty--<I>men of truth,</I> whose word one may
|
|
take, and whose fidelity one may rely upon, who would not for a world
|
|
tell a lie, betray a trust, or act an insidious part.
|
|
|
|
[4.] For noble and generous contempt of worldly wealth--<I>hating
|
|
covetousness,</I> not only not seeking bribes nor aiming to enrich
|
|
themselves, but abhorring the thought of it; he is fit to be a
|
|
magistrate, and he alone, who <I>despiseth the gain of oppressions, and
|
|
shaketh his hands from the holding of bribes,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:15">Isa. xxxiii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he should attend God's direction in the case
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so.</I> Jethro
|
|
knew that Moses had a better counsellor than he was, and to his counsel
|
|
he refers him. Note, Advice must be given with a humble submission to
|
|
the word and providence of God, which must always overrule.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now Moses did not despise this advice because it came from one not
|
|
acquainted, as he was, with the words of God and the visions of the
|
|
Almighty; but he <I>hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
When he came to consider the thing, he saw the reasonableness of what
|
|
his father-in-law proposed and resolved to put it in practice, which he
|
|
did soon afterwards, when he had received directions from God in the
|
|
matter. Note, Those are not so wise as they would be thought to be who
|
|
think themselves too wise to be counselled; for <I>a wise man</I> (one
|
|
who is truly so) <I>will hear, and will increase learning,</I> and not
|
|
slight good counsel, though given by an inferior. Moses did not leave
|
|
the election of the magistrates to the people, who had already done
|
|
enough to prove themselves unfit for such a trust; but he chose them,
|
|
and appointed them, some for greater, others for less division, the
|
|
less probably subordinate to the greater. We have reason to value
|
|
government as a very great mercy, and to thank God for laws and
|
|
magistrates, so that we are not like <I>the fishes of the sea, where
|
|
the greater devour the less.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Jethro's return to his own land,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+18:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
No doubt he took home with him the improvements he had made in the
|
|
knowledge of God, and communicated them to his neighbours for their
|
|
instruction. It is supposed that the Kenites (mentioned in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:6">1 Sam. xv. 6</A>)
|
|
|
|
were the posterity of Jethro (compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:16">Judg. i. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and they are there taken under special protection, for the kindness
|
|
their ancestor here showed to Israel. The good-will shown to God's
|
|
people, even in the smallest instances, shall in no wise lose its
|
|
reward, but shall be recompensed, at furthest, in the resurrection.</P>
|
|
|
|
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