Exodus 18:19

“Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, etc.] Jethro being the elder man, and of some character and figure, being either a priest or prince of Midian, or both, might, without incurring a censure, take upon him to give advice to Moses, a younger man, and his son-in-law, though he was superior to him in office and in parts; and especially since his advice proceeded from a sincere and cordial regard for his health and welfare: and God shall be with thee: and succeed the advice he gave, which he persuaded himself would be agreeable to the will of God, and attending to it he would prosper, and find that the method taken would be blessed of God, and issue in his own good and the good…”

“Counsel - Jethro draws the distinction between the functions of the legislator and the judge. To God-ward - Literally, “before God,” standing between them and God, both as His minister or representative and also as the representative of the people, their agent, so to speak, or deputy before God. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Be thou for them to God - ward - That was an honour which it was not fit any other should share with him in. Also whatever concerned the whole congregation must pass through his hand, Exo 18:20. But, he appointed judges in the several tribes and families, which should try causes between man and man, and determine them, which would be done with less noise, and more dispatch than in the general assembly. 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. This is Jethro's advice; but he adds two qualifications to his counsel. That great care should be taken in the choice of the persons who…”

“18:19-22 Moses needed to distinguish between his teaching function, in which he received and declared God’s decrees and instructions (18:19-20), and his administrative function, in which he applied all of those decrees and instructions (18:21-22).”

“Hearken: Exo 18:24; Pro 9:9 God shall: Exo 3:12, Exo 4:12; Gen 39:2; Deu 20:1; Jos 1:9; Sa2 14:17; Mat 28:20 Be thou: Exo 18:15, Exo 4:16, Exo 20:19; Deu 5:5 bring: Num 27:5 Exodus 18:20”