Loading...

Change Translation

Loading...
  • Recent Translations
  • All Translations

Exodus 18:3-13

Share

Listen to Exodus 18:3-13

Settings

Text Scale

Dark Mode
3 and her 1two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been 2a sojourner in a foreign land."
4 The other was named 3Eliezer, for he said, "4The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh."
5 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where * he was camped, at 5the mount of God.
6 He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her."
7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and 6he bowed down and 7kissed him; and they 8asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent.
8 Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians 9for Israel's sake *, all the 10hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how 11the LORD had delivered them.
9 Jethro rejoiced over all 12the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians.
10 So Jethro said, "13Blessed be the LORD who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 "Now I know that 14the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, 15it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people."
12 16Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law before God.
13 It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening.
Read Chapter Compare Translations
Images Related Articles Commentaries Cross References Sermons

Exodus 18:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 18

This chapter gives an account of Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, with Zipporah his daughter, the wife of Moses, and her two sons, meeting him in the wilderness, who was kindly received by him, Ex 18:1-7 and on Moses' relating the great things God had done for Israel, Jethro expressed his joy on that account, gave praise to God, offered sacrifice, and kept a feast with the elders of Israel, Ex 18:8-12, and observing the constant and fatiguing business Moses had on his hands from morning to evening in judging the people, Ex 18:13-18, he gave him advice to appoint persons under him to receive laws and ordinances from him, he should have from God, and, according to them, judge and govern the people under them, some being rulers of thousands, others of hundreds, others of fifties, and some of tens, Ex 18:19-23, which counsel was acceptable to Moses, and he took it, Ex 18:24-26 and the chapter is concluded with their friendly parting, Ex 18:27.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Cross References 16

  • 1. Exodus 2:22; Exodus 4:20; Acts 7:29
  • 2. Exodus 2:22
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 23:15, 17
  • 4. Genesis 49:25
  • 5. Exodus 3:1, 12; Exodus 4:27; Exodus 24:13
  • 6. Genesis 43:26, 28
  • 7. Genesis 29:13; Exodus 4:27
  • 8. Genesis 43:27; 2 Samuel 11:7
  • 9. Exodus 4:23; Exodus 7:4, 5
  • 10. Numbers 20:14; Nehemiah 9:32
  • 11. Exodus 15:6, 16
  • 12. Isaiah 63:7-14
  • 13. Genesis 14:20; 2 Samuel 18:28; 1 Kings 8:56; Psalms 68:19, 20
  • 14. Exodus 12:12; Exodus 15:11; 2 Chronicles 2:5; Psalms 95:3; Psalms 97:9; Psalms 135:5
  • 15. Luke 1:51
  • 16. Genesis 31:54; Exodus 24:5

Footnotes 11

  • [a] Lit "the name of the one was"
  • [b] Heb "ger"
  • [c] Lit "The name of the other was"
  • [d] Heb "El-ezer;" i.e. my God is help
  • [e] Lit "unto"
  • [f] Lit "said"
  • [g] Lit "in that He had delivered"
  • [h] Lit "him"
  • [i] Lit "indeed, in the thing in which they"
  • [j] Lit "them"
  • [k] Lit "bread"
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org

Study Tools

PLUS

Unlock Notes

This feature is for PLUS subscribers only. Join PLUS today to access these tools and more.

JOIN PLUS

Unlock Highlights

This feature is for PLUS subscribers only. Join PLUS today to access these tools and more.

JOIN PLUS

Unlock Bookmarks

This feature is for PLUS subscribers only. Join PLUS today to access these tools and more.

JOIN PLUS

Track Your Reading

Create a free account to start a reading plan, or join PLUS to unlock our full suite of premium study tools.

CREATE FREE ACCOUNT EXPLORE PLUS
Already have an account? Sign in