Exodus 18:15

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

Exodus 18:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 18:15

And Moses said unto his father in law
In answer to his question; and there were two things, as Aben Ezra observes, he did to the people, and for which they came to him; the one is observed in this verse, and the other in the next:

because the people come unto me to inquire of God;
of his mind and will in certain cases, and of his statutes and laws, as the following verse shows; what they should observe, and according to which they should conduct themselves: they came to inquire what God would have them to do; and, in doubtful cases, what was his will and pleasure, and to desire Moses to inform them; and if the things were of such a nature that he could not easily and readily do it, then to inquire of God for them, which in later times was done by Urim and Thummim.

Exodus 18:15 In-Context

13 The next day Moses sat as a judge for the people, while the people stood around Moses from morning until evening.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What's this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people are standing around you from morning until evening?"

15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

16 When a conflict arises between them, they come to me and I judge between the two of them. I also teach them God's regulations and instructions."

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing isn't good.