Exodus 2:18

18 And when they returned unto Reuel, their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today?

Exodus 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 2:18

And when they came to Reuel their father
Or Ragouel, as the Septuagint; and so Artapanus ^F19 calls him. The Targum of Jonathan has it, their father's father; and so Aben Ezra says he was; and is the sense of others, induced thereto by ( Numbers 10:29 ) , but it does not follow from thence: he said,

how is it that you are come so soon today?
it being not only sooner than they were wont to come, but perhaps their business was done in so short a time; that it was marvellous to him that it could be done in it, so quick a dispatch had Moses made, and they through his assistance; and especially it might be more strange, if it was usual, as it seems it was, to be molested by the shepherds.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Ut supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 434.)

Exodus 2:18 In-Context

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came and drew water to fill the troughs to water their father’s sheep.

17 But the pastors came and drove them away. Then Moses stood up and defended them and watered their sheep.

18 And when they returned unto Reuel, their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today?

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the pastors and also drew water enough for us and watered the sheep.

20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? Why is it that ye have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.