Ver. 1. Heard of all.] And thereby was converted, say the Rabbis, being the first proselyte to the Jewish Church that we read of in the Scripture.
Ver. 2. After he had sent her back.] Because she was troublesome with her peevishness, and a hindrance to the good work in hand. (Exodus 4:25,26) Sulla felix fuisset ni uxorem duxisset; Adrianus ni imperitasset; Moses, both.
Ver. 3. In a strange land.] [See Trapp on “Ex 2:22”]
Ver. 4. Eliezer.] Or, Lazarus. We should write God’s mercies upon the names of our children, or some other ways perpetuate the memory of them.
Ver. 5. At the mount of God.] Horeb; whither they were removed from Rephidim, though the remove be not mentioned.
Ver. 6. And he said.] That is, Sent him word. So God’s messages to us are to be received as his own immediate words; “He that heareth you, heareth me.”
Ver. 7. And did obeisance.] Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor, would, in Westminster Hall, beg his father’s blessing on his knees.
Ver. 8. All that the Lord had done.] It is not enough to relate God’s mercies to us in the lump, and by wholesale; but we must instance the particulars both to God and men. That had come upon them.] Heb., Had found them; yet not without a providence. (Job 5:6) God cuts us out our various conditions: it is his hand that finds us when we suffer aught.
Ver. 9. And Jethro rejoiced.] So must all Sion’s sons. (Isaiah 66:10)
Ver. 10. And Jethro said, &c.] Cheerfulness makes thankfulness. (Luke 1:46 James 5:13)
Ver. 11. Now I know.] [See Trapp on “Ex 18:1”] So the people knew that Jehovah was God. (1 Kings 18:37) See 2 Chronicles 33:13. He was above them.] God sits in the heavens, (Psalms 2:4) where he sees that their day is coming; (Psalms 37:13) and meanwhile scorneth these scorners; (Proverbs 3:34) frights them, as he did those Syrians; (2 Kings 7:6) overawes them, as he did Laban; diverts them, as he did Saul, Sennacherib, &c., or otherwise defeats them, as he did Benhadad, disclosing their counsels, blasting their designs, &c.
Ver. 12. Before God,] i.e., As in his presence, with reverence and godly fear. “To feed without fear” is a foul fault. (Jude 1:12) See my “Commonplace of Abstinence.”
Ver. 13. And the people stood by Moses.] Being haply, as the French are said to be, very litigious; and thereunto abusing Moses’s lenity: whereas had they been soundly whipped, -as among Mohammedans they are, that go to law for light matters, -there would have been but few and short suits amongst them. Sure it is, that if men’s hearts were not bigger than their suits, there would not be half so many.
Ver. 14. What is this thing?] A man by good counsel may become an angel; nay, a god to another. Alexander, being requested by some ambassadors to show them his treasures, showed them his faithful counsellors.
Ver. 15. To inquire of God.] For a divine sentence is in the mouth of the Judge: therefore also the place of judicature is called the holy place. (Ecclesiastes 8:10) Let those that go to law inquire of God, and rest in his will.
Ver. 16. When they have a matter.] In our ordinary suits there is, for the most part, more malice than matter. The late Judge Dier, if there came any such trifling controversies to be tried before him, would usually say, that either the parties are wilful, or their neighbours without charity; because their suits were not quietly compromised.
Ver. 17. Is not good.] We commonly say, He that receives a courtesy, sells his liberty. But so did not Jethro.
Ver. 18. Thou wilt surely wear away.] Heb., Fading, thou wilt fade; as a leaf that wanteth moisture. Melancthon was wont to say, that none laboured so hard as travailing women, magistrates, and ministers. Politici et Ecelesiastici labores maximi sunt, saith Luther. Atterunt enim corpus, et tanquam ex imis medullis exhauriunt succum.
Ver. 19. I will give thee counsel.] A Midianite counsels Moses: God hereby teacheth him humility.
Ver. 20. And thou shalt teach them ordinances.] This alone will be work enough for thee, if done as it ought to be. And shalt show them the way wherein they must walk.] The Chaldee Paraphrast hath it thus, And shalt show them the prayer which they shall pray in their synagogues.
Ver. 2. l. Out of all the people.] Magistrates must be drained from the dregs, sifted from the bran of the ordinary sort of people. Able men.] Able and active; strong and stouthearted; wealthy also, and well grounded. See Jethro’s Justice of Peace, -a sermon by Mr Sam. Ward.
Ver. 22. So shall it be easier, &c.] How thankless is their labour that do wilfully overspend themselves in their ordinary vocations!
Ver. 23. To their place.] To the Promised Land, or to their own homes, well apaid, and with good content.
Ver. 24. So Moses hearkened.] Of a meek man it is said that a child shall lead him: (Isaiah 11:6) how much more so grave a cou nsellor as Jethro! Augustus, ταις παρρησιαις των φιλων υπερεχαιρε, was overjoyed with the plain dealings of his friends and counsellors; as of Mecaenas. Dio, in Augusto.
Ver. 25. And Moses chose.] Not without the people’s consent. (Deuteronomy 1:13,14)
Ver. 27. Into his own land.] An honest man’s heart is the place where his calling is: such a one when he is abroad is like a fish in the air; whereinto if it leap for recreation or necessity, yet it soon returns to its own element.