“When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;”
Cross references: : Exod. 2:16
“Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,”
It may seem that he sent her back for a time to her father for her impatience, lest she should be a let to his vocation, which was so dangerous, Exod. 4:25 .
“And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:”
Horeb is called the mount of God, because God wrought many miracles there. So Peter calleth the mount where Christ was transfigured, the holy mount: for by Christ’s presence it was holy for a time, 2 Pet. 1:18 .
“And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.”
That is, he sent messengers to say unto him.
“And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, 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.”
Whereby it is evident that he worshipped the true God, and therefore Moses refused not to marry his daughter.
“Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.”
Exod. 1:10 , 16 , 22 ; Exod. 5:7 ; Exod. 14:8 For they that drowned the children of the Israelites, perished themselves by water.
“And 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.”
They ate in that place, where the sacrifice was offered: for part was burnt, and the rest eaten.
“And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:”
That is, to know God’s will, and to have justice executed.
“Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Thou wilt: Heb. Fading thou wilt fade”
Deut. 1:9 Hebrew, thou wilt faint and fall.
“Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward , that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:”
Judge thou in hard causes, which cannot be decided but by consulting with God. Or, counsel.
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:”
What manner of men ought to be chosen to bear office.
“So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.”
Godly counsel ought ever to be obeyed, though it come of our inferiors, for to such God oftentimes giveth wisdom to humble them that are exalted, and to declare that one member hath need of another.
“And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.”
Read the occasion, Num. 10:29 .