Bible Commentaries
Exodus 18

Introduction

Overview

Exodus 18:1, Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses; Exodus 18:7, Moses entertains him, and relates the goodness of the Lord; Exodus 18:9, Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice; Exodus 18:13, He gives good counsel, which is accepted; Exodus 18:27, Jethro departs.

Verse 1

Jethro: Exodus 2:16, Exodus 2:21, Exodus 3:1, Exodus 4:18, Numbers 10:29, Judges 4:11

heard: Psalms 34:2, Psalms 44:1, Psalms 77:14, Psalms 77:15, Psalms 78:4, Psalms 105:5, Psalms 105:43, Psalms 106:2, Psalms 106:8, Jeremiah 33:9, Zechariah 8:23, Galatians 1:23, Galatians 1:24

God: Acts 7:35, Acts 7:36, Acts 14:27, Acts 15:12, Acts 21:19, Acts 21:20, Romans 15:18

done: Exodus 7:1 - Exodus 15:27, Joshua 2:10, Joshua 9:9, Nehemiah 9:10, Nehemiah 9:11, Psalms 77:14, Psalms 77:15, Psalms 78:50-53, Psalms 105:36-41, Psalms 106:8-11, Psalms 136:10-16, Isaiah 63:11-13

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:2 - Midian Exodus 2:18 - General Exodus 18:8 - told Judges 1:16 - Moses' 2 Chronicles 7:10 - goodness

Verse 2

Zipporah: Exodus 2:21, Exodus 4:25, Exodus 4:26

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:24 - General Acts 7:29 - Madian

Verse 3

two sons: Acts 7:29

Gershom: i.e. A stranger there, Exodus 2:22, Psalms 39:12, Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 23:15 - Gershom

Verse 4

Eliezer: i.e. my God is an help, Psalms 46:1, Isaiah 50:7-9, Hebrews 13:6

delivered: Exodus 2:15, Psalms 18:1, *title Psalms 18:48, Psalms 34:4, Daniel 6:22, Acts 12:11, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Timothy 4:17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 23:15 - Gershom 1 Chronicles 26:25 - Eliezer

Verse 5

Exodus 3:1, Exodus 3:12, Exodus 19:11, Exodus 19:20, Exodus 24:16, Exodus 24:17, 1 Kings 19:8

Verse 6

said: i.e. by means of messengers sent beforehand, Matthew 12:47

Verse 7

went: Genesis 14:17, Genesis 46:29, Numbers 22:36, Judges 11:34, 1 Kings 2:19, Acts 28:15

did obeisance: Genesis 18:2, Genesis 19:1, Genesis 33:3-7

kissed: Genesis 29:13, Genesis 31:28, Genesis 33:4, Genesis 45:15, Psalms 2:12, Luke 7:45, Acts 20:37

welfare: Heb. peace, Genesis 43:27, 2 Samuel 11:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:6 - Is he well Genesis 29:11 - kissed Genesis 43:28 - made obeisance Judges 1:16 - Moses' Jeremiah 15:5 - how thou doest

Verse 8

told: Exodus 18:1, Nehemiah 9:9-15, Psalms 66:16, Psalms 71:17-20, Psalms 105:1, Psalms 105:2, Psalms 145:4-12

and all the: Exodus 15:22-24, Exodus 16:3

come upon them: Heb. found them, Genesis 44:34, Numbers 20:14, Nehemiah 9:32, *marg.

how the Lord: Psalms 78:42, Psalms 78:43, Psalms 81:7, Psalms 106:10, Psalms 107:2

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:30 - are come upon thee 1 Kings 8:41 - cometh out 2 Chronicles 6:32 - is come

Verse 9

Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 66:10, Romans 12:10, Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 15:6 - ye showed Daniel 6:23 - was 1 Corinthians 13:6 - rejoiceth 1 Thessalonians 1:8 - General

Verse 10

Genesis 14:20, 2 Samuel 18:28, 1 Kings 8:15, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 106:47, Psalms 106:48, Luke 1:68, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Peter 1:3, Revelation 5:11-13, Revelation 19:1-6

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:27 - Blessed 1 Samuel 15:6 - ye showed 1 Samuel 25:32 - General Romans 9:17 - that

Verse 11

Now I: Exodus 9:16, 1 Kings 17:24, 2 Kings 5:15

the Lord: Exodus 15:11, 1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Chronicles 2:5, Psalms 95:3, Psalms 97:9, Psalms 135:5

in the thing: Exodus 1:10, Exodus 1:16, Exodus 1:22, Exodus 5:2, Exodus 5:7, Exodus 14:8, Exodus 14:18

proudly: Exodus 9:17, Exodus 10:3, 1 Samuel 2:3, Nehemiah 9:10, Nehemiah 9:16, Nehemiah 9:29, Job 40:11, Job 40:12, Psalms 31:23, Psalms 119:21, Daniel 4:37, Luke 1:51, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:4 - I will be Numbers 33:4 - upon their gods Joshua 2:9 - I know Joshua 22:22 - Lord God 2 Samuel 22:27 - show thyself unsavoury 2 Samuel 22:28 - but thine 1 Chronicles 17:20 - none Psalms 10:2 - The wicked Psalms 31:20 - from Psalms 46:10 - know Psalms 66:7 - let Psalms 76:10 - Surely Psalms 92:8 - art most Psalms 96:4 - For the Psalms 136:2 - the God Psalms 138:6 - but the proud Isaiah 33:5 - The Lord Daniel 5:20 - when Luke 18:14 - every John 10:29 - is greater Acts 13:17 - and with Romans 9:17 - that 1 Corinthians 3:19 - He Philippians 1:12 - rather

Verse 12

took: Exodus 24:5, Genesis 4:4, Genesis 8:20, Genesis 12:7, Genesis 26:25, Genesis 31:54, Job 1:5, Job 42:8

Aaron: Exodus 24:11, Leviticus 7:11-17, Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 27:7, 1 Chronicles 29:21, 1 Chronicles 29:22, 2 Chronicles 30:22, 1 Corinthians 10:18, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 10:31

eat bread: Exodus 2:20, Genesis 43:25, 2 Samuel 9:7, Job 42:11, Daniel 10:3, Luke 14:1, Luke 14:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 3:16 - elders Numbers 23:3 - burnt Joshua 8:31 - and they offered Judges 1:16 - Moses'

Verse 13

Judges 5:10, Job 29:7, Isaiah 16:5, Joel 3:12, Matthew 23:2, Romans 12:8, Romans 13:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 27:2 - General Deuteronomy 1:12 - General Judges 4:5 - came up 1 Kings 3:16 - stood Jeremiah 21:12 - morning

Verse 14

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:17 - not good Exodus 18:26 - at all Numbers 27:2 - General Judges 1:16 - Moses' 2 Samuel 15:2 - came

Verse 15

to inquire: Exodus 18:19, Exodus 18:20, Leviticus 24:12-14, Numbers 15:34, Numbers 27:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:26 - the hard causes Numbers 9:6 - they came 2 Chronicles 34:21 - inquire

Verse 16

a matter: Exodus 23:7, Exodus 24:14, Deuteronomy 17:8-12, 2 Samuel 15:3, Job 31:13, Acts 18:14, Acts 18:15, 1 Corinthians 6:1

one and another: Heb. a man and his fellow, Exodus 2:13

make: Leviticus 24:15, Numbers 15:35, Numbers 27:6-11, Numbers 36:6-9, Deuteronomy 4:5, Deuteronomy 5:1, Deuteronomy 6:1, 1 Samuel 12:23, Matthew 28:20, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:20 - teach Leviticus 24:12 - that the mind of the Lord might be showed them Deuteronomy 33:5 - king Judges 4:5 - came up 2 Samuel 15:2 - came 1 Kings 3:16 - stood Psalms 19:8 - statutes

Verse 17

not good: Exodus 18:14, Deuteronomy 1:12, 1 Kings 3:8, 1 Kings 3:9, 1 Kings 13:18, 2 Chronicles 19:6, Matthew 17:4, John 13:6-10

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:7 - a prophet Proverbs 27:9 - so Acts 6:2 - we should

Verse 18

Thou wilt surely wear away: Heb. Fading thou wilt fade, 2 Corinthians 12:15, Philippians 2:30, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:9

thou art: Numbers 11:14-17, Deuteronomy 1:9-12, Acts 6:1-4

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:22 - they shall Exodus 18:23 - God Deuteronomy 1:17 - the cause

Verse 19

Hearken: Exodus 18:24, Proverbs 9:9

God shall: Exodus 3:12, Exodus 4:12, Genesis 39:2, Deuteronomy 20:1, Joshua 1:9, 2 Samuel 14:17, Matthew 28:20

Be thou: Exodus 18:15, Exodus 4:16, Exodus 20:19, Deuteronomy 5:5

bring: Numbers 27:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:33 - look out Numbers 9:6 - they came Numbers 27:2 - General Deuteronomy 33:5 - king Judges 4:5 - came up 1 Samuel 15:6 - ye showed 2 Chronicles 19:8 - the judgment Ecclesiastes 10:10 - wisdom Matthew 23:3 - whatsoever 2 Corinthians 3:4 - General

Verse 20

teach: Exodus 18:16, Deuteronomy 4:1, Deuteronomy 4:5, Deuteronomy 5:1, Deuteronomy 6:1, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 7:11, Nehemiah 9:13, Nehemiah 9:14

the way: 1 Samuel 12:23, Psalms 32:8, Psalms 143:8, Isaiah 30:21, Jeremiah 6:16, Jeremiah 42:3, Micah 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:1

work: Deuteronomy 1:18, Ezekiel 3:17, Matthew 28:20, Mark 13:34, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:48 - led me Exodus 18:15 - to inquire Deuteronomy 8:6 - walk Matthew 23:3 - whatsoever

Verse 21

Moreover: Deuteronomy 1:13-17, Acts 6:3

able men: Exodus 18:25, Deuteronomy 16:18, 1 Kings 3:9-12, Proverbs 28:2

such as: Exodus 23:2-9, Genesis 22:12, Genesis 42:18, 2 Samuel 23:3, 1 Kings 18:3, 1 Kings 18:12, 2 Chronicles 19:5-10, Nehemiah 5:9, Nehemiah 7:2, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Luke 18:2, Luke 18:4

men: Job 29:16, Job 31:13, Isaiah 16:5, Isaiah 59:4, Isaiah 59:14, Isaiah 59:15, Jeremiah 5:1, Ezekiel 18:8, Zechariah 7:9, Zechariah 8:16

hating: Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:18, Deuteronomy 16:19, 1 Samuel 8:3, 1 Samuel 12:3, 1 Samuel 12:4, Psalms 26:9, Psalms 26:10, Isaiah 33:15, Ezekiel 22:12, Acts 20:33, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:9-11, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15

rulers of thousands: Whatever matter the decarch, or ruler over ten, could not decide, went to the pentecontarch, or ruler of fifty, and thence by degrees to the hecatontarch, or ruler over a hundred, to the chiliarch, or ruler over a thousand, to Moses, and at length to God himself. Each magistrate had the care or inspection of only ten men; the decarch superintended ten private characters; the hecatontarch ten decarchs; and the chiliarch, ten hecatontarchs. Numbers 10:4, Deuteronomy 1:15, Joshua 22:14, 1 Samuel 8:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:6 - rulers Exodus 21:6 - the judges Exodus 22:9 - the cause of both parties Leviticus 4:22 - a ruler hath sinned Leviticus 19:15 - General Numbers 1:16 - heads Numbers 25:5 - judges Joshua 22:21 - heads Judges 6:15 - my family is poor Ruth 4:2 - the elders 1 Kings 4:2 - the princes 1 Chronicles 12:20 - captains 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the Ezra 7:25 - set magistrates Psalms 82:1 - God Psalms 119:36 - and not to Proverbs 15:27 - but Proverbs 28:16 - he that Isaiah 3:3 - captain Jeremiah 22:17 - covetousness Daniel 6:1 - an Micah 5:2 - thousands Malachi 3:5 - fear Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness

Verse 22

at all seasons: Exodus 18:26, Romans 13:6

great: Leviticus 24:11, Numbers 15:33, Numbers 27:2, Numbers 36:1, Deuteronomy 1:17, Deuteronomy 17:8, Deuteronomy 17:9

they shall: Exodus 18:18, Numbers 11:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:9 - the cause of both parties Ruth 4:2 - the elders 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the Daniel 6:1 - an Luke 18:2 - which

Verse 23

God: Exodus 18:18, Genesis 21:10-12, 1 Samuel 8:6, 1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 8:22, Acts 15:2, Galatians 2:2

and all this: Exodus 16:29, Genesis 18:33, Genesis 30:25, 2 Samuel 18:3, 2 Samuel 19:39, 2 Samuel 21:17, Philippians 1:24, Philippians 1:25

Reciprocal: Leviticus 24:12 - that the mind of the Lord might be showed them 1 Chronicles 13:2 - and that it be Matthew 23:3 - whatsoever 2 Peter 3:9 - not willing

Verse 24

Exodus 18:2-5, Exodus 18:19, Ezra 10:2, Ezra 10:5, Proverbs 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12:21

Verse 25

Exodus 18:21, Deuteronomy 1:15, Acts 6:5

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:14 - if any man Numbers 1:4 - General Numbers 1:16 - heads Numbers 13:2 - a ruler Numbers 25:4 - all the heads Numbers 25:5 - judges Numbers 30:1 - General Deuteronomy 16:18 - Judges Deuteronomy 31:28 - Gather unto me Joshua 22:14 - an head Joshua 24:1 - called 1 Chronicles 27:1 - captains 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the 2 Chronicles 25:5 - captains over thousands Micah 5:2 - thousands

Verse 26

at all: Exodus 18:14, Exodus 18:22

the hard causes: Exodus 18:15, Exodus 18:22, Deuteronomy 17:8, 1 Kings 3:16-28, 1 Kings 10:1, Job 29:16

Reciprocal: Exodus 24:14 - if any man Leviticus 24:11 - brought him Numbers 9:6 - they came Numbers 25:5 - judges Deuteronomy 1:15 - I took Deuteronomy 1:17 - the cause Deuteronomy 16:18 - Judges Joshua 24:1 - called Judges 4:5 - came up 2 Samuel 15:2 - came 2 Chronicles 19:7 - let the

Verse 27

Genesis 24:59, Genesis 31:55, Numbers 10:29, Numbers 10:30, Judges 19:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:20 - General Judges 1:16 - Moses' Ruth 1:7 - they went