Exodus 18:19-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 18:13-27

Here is, I. The great zeal and industry of Moses as a magistrate. 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, etc., beside the laws of nature, relating both to piety and equity, Exod. 18:15.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:19

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel ,.... 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:20

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws ,.... Both with respect to things civil and religious, which he should receive from God: and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk ; the path of faith and duty, the way of truth, holiness, and righteousness: and the work that they must do ; both with respect to God, and one another, the various duties and exercises of religion, everything relating to their moral, religious, and civil conduct. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:21

Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people ,.... Or look out F20 from among them; see Acts 6:3 , able men ; or "men of power" F21 ; meaning not so much men of strong and robust constitutions, who, as Aben Ezra says, are able to bear labour; but men that have strength of heart, as Ben Gersom expresses it, men of spirit and courage, and are not afraid to do justice, to repress vice, and countenance virtue; or, as Maimonides says F23 Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:22

And let them judge the people at all times ,.... In their several districts, whenever a matter of difference between man and man arises, and the case is brought before them, let them judge impartially between them, and determine what is right and wrong, and execute judgment and justice truly; which would take off a great deal of business from the hands of Moses: and it shall be that every great matter they shall bring to thee ; any affair of great importance, and difficult of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:23

If thou shall do this thing ,.... Hearken to the advice given, and put it in execution, by choosing out of the people, and placing over them, judges qualified, as directed: and God command thee so; for he did not desire him to follow his advice any further than it appeared to be according to the will of God, which he doubted not he would inquire about; and if he found it was agreeable to it, and should pursue it: then thou shall be able to endure ; to continue in his office and post, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:24

So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law ,.... Considered what he said, weighed it well in his mind, and judged it good advice, and determined to follow it: and did all that he had said ; by choosing such men as he directed to, and committing the judgment of the people to them, as follows: read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:25

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel ,.... He looked among them, and selected the best of them, such as most answered to the qualifications it was requisite they should have; and though only one of them is here mentioned, which is the first Jethro gave, yet no doubt they were all attended to, though not expressed: and made them heads over the people ; rulers, governors, judges, and officers; this is a general word, comprehending their several particular offices they sustained;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 18:26

And they judged the people at all seasons ,.... Any day in the week, or any time in the day, whenever there was any occasion for them, and cases were brought before them: the hard cases they brought unto Moses ; that is, the judges brought them to Moses when such came before them which were too hard for them, it was difficult to them to determine rightly about them, then they brought them to be heard and decided by him; for the judges, and not the people, best knew when a case was hard... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 18:19

I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee - Jethro seems to have been a man of great understanding and prudence. His advice to Moses was most appropriate and excellent; and it was probably given under the immediate inspiration of God, for after such sacrificial rites, and public acknowledgment of God, the prophetic spirit might be well expected to descend and rest upon him. God could have showed Moses the propriety and necessity of adopting such measures before, but he chose in... read more

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