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"Moses followed Jethro's advice."
- Exodus 18: 24, Contemporary English Version, see link below.
At the end of 17 we had just had a battle with some locals with Moses holding a referee's 'touchdown' pose on top of a hill, and then he built the first altar we'd seen in a long time.
1 - 4 Discussion:
Moses' father in law is still going by the name Jethro, remember, in chapter three when we met him, his name was given as Reul, but he hasn't changed jobs, he is still described as the "kohen" (priest) of Midian. That detail comes to fruition in this chapter, stand by.
In any case, he hears the news, and heads down to the camp with Moses' wife and sons. All verse two tells us is that Moses had "shilluchim" ('sent back' / dismissal (includes the idea of divorce, which is evidently not the case here)), and then in the next verse we see that she took their sons with her. And the fact that he had Two sons, is news to us. The birth of the second is not recorded in the text, there is no other mention of this "Eliezer" ('God is my help') in the OT although there are several other men by that name in it. As for Gershom, the oldest, we never see him again either. The Gershom in Judges 18 isn't him, and neither, apparently, is the one in 1 Chronicles 6 : 1 and 16 although the one listed was of the tribe of Levi.
Remember that discussion about the 'battle' with Moses on a hill? The scene has changed, and some time has passed.
5 Summary:
Jethro shows up in camp in the "midbar" (desert / wilderness) at the "har" (mountain) of 'Elohim.
It has always been implied that this is the same mountain where Moses encountered the burning bush. Whether or not the text supports that idea depends more on how you read it than what it actually says. It is possible, and even likely, however, it isn't required, and GOD may hold the land title to more than one mountain. As to where these mountains are, they're NOT in Egypt, and we'll come back to that as well, with textual references and discussion in the next chapter.
6 Summary:
Jethro reminds Moses who he is, and who's with him.
No, really, that is exactly what it says.
7 Summary and...:
Moses goes out to meet them.....
.... and they "shaal" (inquired / asked) each "rea" (another) about their "shalom" (peace / well-being / prosperity) - and they "bo" (entered) the "ohel" (tent / home).
Small talk hasn't changed in four thousand years.
8
Moses tells his father-in-law all that YHWH had done to Pharaoh and Egypt....
...."'al" (because of / over / concerning / etc) Israel - "kol" (all) "telaah" (trouble / hardship (the 1611 uses 'travail' meaning 'painful labor') that "matsa" (encountered / found) "derek" (road / journey) "natsal" (delivered / rescued) them YHWH.
This chapter begins with him hearing the news of what had happened when he was at home. Now he gets to hear it first hand from Moses.
10 - 11
And said Jethro, "barak" (bless) YHWH, "asher" (who / which) "natsal" (delivered...) you out of the "yad" (hand / hands) of Egypt and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who "natsal" (delivered...) the "am" (people) from under the hand of Egypt.
"attah" (now) I "yada" (know / understand) that "gadol" (great / mighty) YHWH than all "ha 'elohim" (the gods) - for "dabar" (word / matter / thing) in which they "zud / zid" (act proudly / arrogant), He was "al" (above / over) them.
That last bit is an opposite statement from Pharaoh's saying that he doesn't know this God in chapter 5.
This also confirms what sort of priest Reuel / Jethro was. Exodus 2 : 16 and following, where we meet him, doesn't contain that information.
12 Summary:
"laqach" (took / bring) Jethro.... a "olah" (burnt offering) "zebach" (sacrifices) to 'Elohim - and came Aaron and "zaqen" (elders / aged) of Israel to "akal" (eat) "lachem" (food / bread) with 'him' before God.
This is a change of atmosphere from early in the last chapter where the Moses told God that the people were ready to stone him. Now, the 'old men' are having supper with him and his family.
13 Summary and explanation:
The next day Moses has to go out to "shaphat" (judge / adjudicate / govern) the people......
At this time, a 'judge' was more of an administrator than what we think of in the sense of somebody that solely presides over a criminal court. As today, if there was a dispute about whose sheep were whose, they went to the judge, and if somebody stole a sheep, or killed somebody, they went to the same judge. The role was to settle disputes in the civil sense, including presiding over a divorce, as well as pronouncing penalties in criminal cases, and, if there was an argument over an inheritance, or even a dowry, 'the judge', who was later a Divinely Appointed Leader (see the Book of Judges, beginning in chapter 3, for examples, link below) heard the case and evaluated the evidence. So here, Moses was the mayor, the justice of the peace, marriage counselor, business arbitrator, as well as the tour guide for the people.
..... and "amad" (stood / stand) before the people Moses from "boqer" (morning) to "ereb" (evening).
14 Short paraphrase:
Jethero sees what's going on and can't believe it, he goes to Moses for him to explain.
15 - 16 Summary:
Moses says the people come to him to inquire of God. When they have "dabar" (words (in this usage: disputes)) they come and he judges between them, and he makes known the "choq" (statute / decree) of God and His "Torah" (laws).
17 - 18 Summary and paraphrase:
So said his father-in-law to him, "lo" (not) "towb" (good / best / etc) this thing. You'll "nabel" (wither / fade / wilt), you and the people with you - this is too much for you.
19
"attah" (now) "shama" (hear / listen) to my "qol" (voice) - and I will give you "yaats" (advice / counsel): and "hayah" (be / together) 'Elohim with you "hayah" (stand) you for the people before 'Elohim, so can bring you the "dabar" (words / matters / things) to 'Elohim.
Jethro understands that Moses stands as the primary intercessor between the people and God. Because, as of right now, Aaron isn't a priest like Melchizedek.... no one is.
20
and you will "zahar" (admonish / warn / teach) them the "derek" (way / road / path) they must "halak" (walk / proceed), and the "maaseh" (work / labor) they must do.
One of the early names for Christianity was "The Way", see Acts 9 : 2, which was based on Christ's statement in John 14 : 6. This is the first time the believer's life with God is described like this.
21 Summary:
and "attah" (you) "chazah" (provide) from all the people "ish" (men) of "chayil" (valor / able / strong / valiant / etc), "yare" (reverent / fear) 'Elohim, men of "emeth" (truth / reliable / faithful), "sane" (hate / detest / hostile to) "betsa" (plunder / unjust gain) - and "sum / sim" (put / place / set) over them "sar" (prince / ruler / captain / etc) of "eleph" (thousand) and ... hundreds, fifties, tens.
22 Summary:
and let them "shaphat" (judge / govern / etc) the people at all times ... every matter "gadol" (great / important) they will bring to you, but matters "qatan" (insignificant) they "shaphat" (judge...). And it be "qalal" (lighter) for you if they "nasa" (bear) the burden with you.
23 Paraphrase:
If you try this, and God commands you to do so, then you "yakol" (able / endure / prevail / overcome / etc), and all the people will go to their place in peace.
24 - 25 Paraphrase:
Moses listened to his father-in-law, and did as he was told. Making "rosh" (head / top) over the people, rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifty, ten.
Now the one thing it doesn't say is whether that is ten people, which could be one couple with a bunch of kids... or was it ten households.
26 Summary:
They judged the people all the time, the cases "qasheh" (hard / difficult / grievous) they brought to Moses, but every case small they judged.
27 Summary:
And let depart Moses his father in law, and he went to his own land.
The text does not say here if Moses' wife and kids stayed with him or went back with Jethro.
End Chapter 18
Selected Resources:
All links will open in a new tab/window, all were working as of original date of posting:
Interlinear English / Hebrew: Chapter 18 https://biblehub.com/interlinear/exodus/18.htm
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611_Exodus-Chapter-18/
Contemporary English Version https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2018&version=CEV
An article about Moses' wife:
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/zipporah/
Book of Judges, chapter 3: New King James Version https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%203&version=NKJV
NOTE: The Bible Study Lesson presented above is posted as a reference document to begin a conversation of the topic. And that's it. Please accept it at such.
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