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Exodus Chapter 18

Old Testament Law (Torah) 27 Verses

What is Exodus 18 about?

Israel's deliverance from Egypt, the Ten Commandments given at Sinai, and the construction of the Tabernacle. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses` father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.
2And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses` wife, after he had sent her away,
3and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land:
4and the name of the other was Eliezer; for [he said], The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.
5And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:
6and he said unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
7And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
8And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel`s sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.
9And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.
12And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses` father-in-law before God.
13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14And when Moses` father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?
15And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
16when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17And Moses` father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:
20and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden] with thee.
23If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.
24So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.
25And 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.
26And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“When Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses’s father-in-law, etc.] The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan call him the prince of Midian, and so the word f560 is rendered in some versions; whose daughter Moses had married, and so was his father-in-law, of which see more in (<020216>Exodus 2:16-21). 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 way for them, the destruction of the Egyptians, providing them with bread and water in such a miraculous manner in the wilderness, and giving them victory over Amalek, and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“VISIT OF JETHRO. (Exo. 18:1-27) Jethro . . . came . . . unto Moses, &c.--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).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Jethro was, in all probability, the “brother-in-law” of Moses Exodus 3:1. On the parting from Zipporah, see Exodus 4:26. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Jethro to congratulate the happiness of Israel, and particularly the honour of Moses his son - in - law; comes to rejoice with them, as one that had a true respect both for them and for their God. And also to bring Moses's wife and children to him. It seems he had sent them back, probably from the inn where his wife's lothness to have her son circumcised had like to have cost him his life, Exo 4:25. Exodus 18:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“18:1-12 Moses had apparently sent his wife and children back from Egypt at some point to stay with his father-in-law. In the intense confrontation with Pharaoh, Moses might have been afraid for their lives. Jethro now came to meet Moses and the Israelites, bringing Moses’ family with him (18:2-6). In the context of the visit, Moses gave him a report, and Jethro was brought to faith through the testimony of the Lord’s work.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Jethro: Exo 2:16, Exo 2:21, Exo 3:1, Exo 4:18; Num 10:29; Jdg 4:11 heard: Psa 34:2, Psa 44:1, Psa 77:14, Psa 77:15, Psa 78:4, Psa 105:5, Psa 105:43, Psa 106:2, Psa 106:8; Jer 33:9; Zac 8:23; Gal 1:23, Gal 1:24 God: Act 7:35, Act 7:36, Act 14:27, Act 15:12, Act 21:19, Act 21:20; Rom 15:18 done: Exod. 7:1-15:27; Jos 2:10, Jos 9:9; Neh 9:10, Neh 9:11; Psa 77:14, Psa 77:15, Psa 78:50-53; Psa 105:36-41, Psa 106:8-11, Psa 136:10-16; Isa 63:11-13 Exodus 18:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“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, the Midianitish priest, appeared immediately after in the camp of Israel, not only as Moses' father-in-law, to bring back his wife and children, but also with a joyful acknowledgement of all that Jehovah had done to the Israelites in delivering them from Egypt, to offer burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, and to celebrate a sacrificial meal with Moses, Aaron, and all the elders of Israel; so that in the person of Jethro the first-fruits of the heathen, who would…”
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