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Exodus 18:15

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 18:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:
Exodus 18:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
← Exodus 18:14Exodus 18:16 →
← Full Chapter 18 Exodus Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Moses said unto his father in law, etc.] 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 what God would have them to do; and, in doubtful cases, what was his will and pleasure, and to desire Moses to inform them; and if the things were of such a nature that he could not easily and readily do it,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“To enquire of God - The decisions of Moses were doubtless accepted by the people as oracles. The internal prompting of the Spirit was a sufficient guidance for him, and a sufficient authority for the people. 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 · 18th-century historical commentary
“The people came to enquire of God - And happy was it for them that they had such an oracle to consult. Moses was faithful both to him that appointed him, and to them that consulted him, and made them know the statutes of God, and his laws - His business was not to make laws, but to make known God's laws: his place was but that of a servant. Exodus 18:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“to inquire: Exo 18:19, Exo 18:20; Lev 24:12-14; Num 15:34, Num 27:5 Exodus 18:16”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification