Exodus 2:18

18 When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come back 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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Exodus 2:18 In-Context

16 The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
17 But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock.
18 When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come back so soon today?"
19 They said, "An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock."
20 He said to his daughters, "Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.