Êxodo 18

Êxodo 18

MacArthur points out that "The intelligence-gathering ability of ancient peoples should not be underestimated. Quickly and thoroughly the news of significant events in other lands passed from one place to another, very often via the merchant caravans which traversed the Fertile Crescent, or through ambassadors and other official contacts between nations. In Jethro's case, whatever knowledge he had gleaned of Israel's progress had been supplemented with information from Zipporah and her sons after Moses sent them ahead to her home (Ex 18:2). (MacArthur Study Bible) How the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt - Brought out (used in same sense in Ex 3:10, 11, 12+, Ex 6:26+, Ex 14:11+, Ex 16:3+) in the Septuagint is the verb exago which means to lead out, conduct out, bring out (used in the Lxx of Ex 6:6, 7+,, et al, cf Dt 4:37, Jer 31:32+). While some passages in Exodus point out Moses' role in leading out the people (Ex 3:10-13+), here Jethro seems to have understood that it was Jehovah Who brought Israel out of Egypt. (cf Ex 6:6, 7+, Ex 7:4, 5+, Ex 12:17+, Ex 12:42+, Ex 12:51+, Ex 13:3+, Ex 13:9+, Ex 13:14+, Ex 13:16+, Ex 16:6+, Ex 16:32+, Ex 18:1) As a father-in-law he could have proudly pointed out it was his own son-in-law who lead them out but Jethro pointed to Yahweh as the One deserving the glory. THOUGHT - There is a good lesson here for all of us in ministry (and we are ALL in ministry of one type or another). Anything we do that is of eternal value is (1) accomplished by the Spirit of Christ in us (cf Jn 15:5, Jn 15:8) and (2) should always point to Jesus as the One Who Alone deserves the glory and honor. We are but a bunch of "cracked pots" the Creator has redeemed to use in various supernatural ways that point to Himself, the God of all glory. Question - When men praise me for what God has privileged me and empowered me to do for His glory, do I humbly, honestly point them to the true Source of successful, supernatural ministry? Ouch! I am continually reminded of Proverbs 27:21 "The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him." The Spirit frequently reminds me of the words of Paul "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (AND THE SPIRIT CONTINUALLY POINTS TO JESUS - SEE Jn 16:14, Jn 15:26)." (2 Cor 3:5-6+) Brought (yatsa) is used some 113 times in Exodus - Ex 1:5; Ex 2:11; Ex 2:13; Ex 3:10; Ex 3:11; Ex 3:12; Ex 4:6; Ex 4:7; Ex 4:14; Ex 5:10; Ex 5:20; Ex 6:6; Ex 6:7; Ex 6:13; Ex 6:26; Ex 6:27; Ex 7:4; Ex 7:5; Ex 7:15; Ex 8:12; Ex 8:18; Ex 8:20; Ex 8:29; Ex 8:30; Ex 9:29; Ex 9:33; Ex 10:6; Ex 10:18; Ex 11:4; Ex 11:8; Ex 12:17; Ex 12:22; Ex 12:31; Ex 12:39; Ex 12:41; Ex 12:42; Ex 12:46; Ex 12:51; Ex 13:3; Ex 13:4; Ex 13:8; Ex 13:9; Ex 13:14; Ex 13:16; Ex 14:8; Ex 14:11; Ex 15:20; Ex 15:22; Ex 16:1; Ex 16:3; Ex 16:4; Ex 16:6; Ex 16:27; Ex 16:29; Ex 16:32; Ex 17:6; Ex 17:9; Ex 18:1; Ex 18:7; Ex 19:1; Ex 19:17; Ex 20:2; Ex 21:2; Ex 21:3; Ex 21:4; Ex 21:5; Ex 21:7; Ex 21:11; Ex 21:22; Ex 22:6; Ex 23:15; Ex 23:16; Ex 25:32; Ex 25:33; Ex 25:35; Ex 28:35; Ex 29:46; Ex 32:11; Ex 32:12; Ex 32:24; Ex 33:7; Ex 33:8; Ex 34:18; Ex 34:34; Ex 35:20; Ex 37:18; Ex 37:19; Ex 37:21; Related Resources: American Tract Society Jethro Easton's Bible Dictionary Jethro Fausset Bible Dictionary Jethro Holman Bible Dictionary Jethro Hitchcock Bible Names Jethro Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Jethro International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Jethro Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Jethro The Jewish Encyclopedia Jethro Question: "Who was Jethro in the Bible?" Answer: Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses and father of Zipporah. Jethro is first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 2:16 where he is described as “a priest of Midian.” He is also referred to as Reuel (verse 18), which could indicate the equivalent of a last name. The name Reuel means “friend of God,” so the fact that the Bible calls him first by this name may mean that he was a priest of the Most High God, rather than a pagan deity as some have suggested. Many people in the Bible were called by two names such as Jacob (Israel, Genesis 35:10), Simon (Peter, Luke 6:14), Matthew (Levi, Mark 2:14; Matthew 9:9), and Paul (Saul, Acts 13:9). Sometimes the name change was due to an encounter with God. Other times it may have simply been a second name, in the way that a man named Ben Jones may be called both “Ben” and “Jones.” Exodus 2 details the account of Moses’ first encounter with Jethro. When Moses was on the run from Pharaoh, after having killed an Egyptian, he found himself in Midian by a well. Jethro’s seven daughters were shepherdesses who came to the well to water their sheep. However, some men chased the women away, and Moses came to their defense. In gratitude for Moses’ care of his daughters, Jethro invited him for dinner. Over the course of time, Jethro gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses for a wife, and they had two sons (Exodus 2:21; 4:20). Moses stayed with the Midianites for forty years until God called to him from the burning bush (Exodus 3). Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, gave him his blessing to return to his people in obedience to God (Exodus 4:18). Jethro is highlighted again in Exodus chapter 18. Moses had sent Zipporah and their sons back to Midian, rather than take them to Egypt, perhaps due to the dangers he would face in leading an entire nation out of slavery. Moses clearly trusted Jethro to take good care of his family and use wisdom in knowing when to reunite them. In Exodus 18, Jethro brings Zipporah and the children to Moses at Sinai. The relationship between Moses and Jethro was always cordial (verses 7–8), and Jethro offers some fatherly advice when he sees the overwhelming responsibility facing his son-in-law (verses 13–27). Moses takes Jethro’s advice on how to delegate authority: “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said” (verse 24). Moses then sends Jethro back to Midian with his blessing (verse 27). From all we can tell in the Bible, Jethro was a godly man of integrity who played a small part in God’s great story of deliverance for the Israelites. He is a good role model for in-laws. He offered wise counsel, stepped in to help when needed, and then got out of the way. (Source: Gotquestions.org) Exodus 18:2 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away, Zipporah - Ex 2:21 Ex 4:25,26 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries A FAMILY REUNION Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away - Earlier Moses recorded that he "took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand." However at some point Moses sent his wife and sons back to his father-in-law Jethro. Now they are returning with Jethro to meet Moses after the defeat of the Amalekites. It is interesting that there is no further mention of the reunion of Moses with his family. Exodus 18:2-5 A Family Reunion - Woodrow Kroll Beau Arceneaux was 15 months old when he was kidnapped by his father and taken from Louisiana to live in Austin, Texas. Years later, as he visited a chat room on the Internet, a couple of people became curious about this boy who had no contact with his mother. So they informed the police. In December 1995, the FBI showed up at Beau's home to tell him his mother had been searching for him for the past 12 years. On December 20, mother and son were joyfully reunited. Have you ever been separated from your family? If you have ever been apart from your family for any length of time, you know how difficult it is. I was apart from my wife and children during my last semester of seminary while I was studying in France. I was thousands of miles away, living in a foreign country, knowing I would not see them for months. It wasn't easy. Moses also had been separated from his family. Zipporah, his wife of 40 years, and his two sons had been sent back to the land of Midian while he returned to Egypt to lead Israel to freedom. With that challenge behind him, Moses was ready to be reunited with his loved ones and Jethro was gracious enough to bring this about. While Scripture gives no details, you can imagine what a joyful reunion it was. As Christians we also have the joy of anticipating a very special reunion. Scripture says, "And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17+). Now that?s a family reunion! Someday we?ll experience a reunion that never ends. Hallelujah! Back to the Bible (Used with permission) Christians never say "good-bye"; just "until we meet again." D A Carson - Exodus 18; Luke 21; Job 36; 2 Corinthians 6 ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE the conversations that Moses had enjoyed with Jethro, his father-in-law, during the decades they spent together in Midian. But clearly, some of the talk was about the Lord God. Called to his extraordinary ministry, Moses temporarily entrusted his wife and sons to his father-in-law’s care (Ex. 18:2). Perhaps that decision had been precipitated by the extraordinary event described in Exodus 4:24–26, where in the light of this new mission Moses’ own sons undergo emergency circumcision to bring Moses’ household into compliance with the covenant with Abraham, thereby avoiding the wrath of God. But now Moses learns that Jethro is coming to see him, restoring to him his wife Zipporah and their sons Gershom and Eliezer. Soon Moses continues the old conversation. This time he gives his father-in-law a blow-by-blow account of all that the Lord had done in rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt. Doubtless some of Jethro’s delight (18:9) is bound up with his ties with his son-in-law. But if his final evaluative comment is taken at face value, Jethro has also come to a decisive conclusion: “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly” (18:11). And he offers sacrifices to the living God (18:12). All this material is provided as background for what takes place in the rest of the chapter. The next day, Jethro sees Moses attempting to arbitrate every dispute in the fledgling nation. With wisdom and insight he urges on Moses a major administrative overhaul—a rigorous judicial system with most of the decisions being taken at the lowest possible level, only the toughest cases being reserved for Moses himself, the “supreme court.” Moses listens carefully to his father-in-law, and puts the entire plan into operation (18:24). The advantages for the people, who are less frustrated by the system, and for Moses, who is no longer run ragged, are beyond calculation. And at the end of the chapter, Jethro returns home. In some ways, the account is surprising. Major administrative structures are being put into place among the covenant community without any word from God. Why is Jethro, at best on the fringes of the covenant people, allowed to play such an extraordinary role as counselor and confidant of Moses? The questions answer themselves. God may use the means of “common grace” to instruct and enrich his people. The sovereign goodness and provision of God are displayed as much in bringing Jethro on the scene at this propitious moment as in the parting of the waters of the Red Sea. Are there not contemporary analogies? (For the Love of God) Before the Face of God - When Israel came out of Egypt, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, came out to meet them. When he saw that Moses was spending the entire day teaching the people and judging disputes, he told him that what he was doing was unwise. Jethro’s advice was to organize the nation with elders over tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands, and to leave only the toughest cases for appeal to Moses himself. The importance of such organization can be seen in the history of World War II. A tiny and impoverished nation, already defeated in World War I, Germany challenged France, Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union—and almost won. One reason Germany was so successful was a strong military organization that resembled what Jethro set up for Moses. Being organized, however, is not enough. Just as an organized army needs armaments as well, so the church also needs power. The battle we fight is not just against flesh and blood, but primarily against principalities and powers. Human resources alone will not prevail. We see this in Numbers 11, where the people complained about the manna. Moses responded by telling God he could no longer bear the burden of carrying the people alone. God responded by distributing to seventy elders of Israel the Spirit that had formerly been exclusively with Moses. Some of Moses’ loyal supporters were upset when they saw others prophesying, but Moses said, “I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Nu 11:29). Moses’ wish became a prophecy in Joel 2, when the prophet predicted that, in the new covenant, all people would be given the Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the empowering of God’s army became a reality. Coram Deo - Evangelism is a worldwide effort on the part of God’s Spirit-empowered army, the church. God gives wisdom to organize and strength to perform. Take some time to pray for worldwide evangelism—specifically for missionaries you know. If you do not have a list of missionaries to pray for, take steps to make one. Exodus 18:3 and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land." two sons - Ac 7:29 Gershom - Ex 2:22 Ps 39:12 Heb 11:13 1Pe 2:11 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries and her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom, for Moses said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land - Ex 2:22 has his name is "Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” As is often seen in the OT, the name of a person is explained in the same passage. In this case Gershom means something like "a sojourner in a foreign land" or "a stranger there." It is sad to read of Gershom's descendants in Judges 18:30+ "The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land." Related Resources: American Tract Society Gershom Easton's Bible Dictionary Gershom Fausset Bible Dictionary Gershom Holman Bible Dictionary Gershom Hitchcock Bible Names Gershom Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Gershom Morrish Bible Dictionary Gershom International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Gershom Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Gershom Exodus 18:4 The other was named Eliezer, for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." Eliezer - Ps 46:1 Isa 50:7-9 Heb 13:6 delivered - Ex 2:15 Ps 18:1 Ps 18:48 34:4 Da 6:22 Ac 12:11 2Co 1:8-10 2Ti 4:17 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MY GOD IS HELP! The other was named Eliezer, for he said, "The God of my father was my help - Eliezer means something like "my God is help," "God is help." Note again the name is explained in the last part of the passage. Help is the great word 'ezer (as in the name "Eben-ezer" = stone of help). The Septuagint translates help with the great word boethos which describes one who runs upon hearing a cry to for help (cf related verb boethos from boe = a cry + theo = to run). It is used once in the NT as a description of God our Helper. ("we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” - Hebrews 13:6+). Wiersbe on Gershom and Eliezer - Like the names Joseph gave to his two sons (Gen. 41:50–52), the names of Moses’ sons reflected his own experience: an alien in the land, but with God’s help, a conqueror. NET Note - Not mentioned earlier, the name has become even more appropriate now that God has delivered Moses from Pharaoh again. The word for “help” is a common word in the Bible, first introduced as a description of the woman in the Garden. It means to do for someone what he or she cannot do for himself or herself. Samuel raised the “stone of help” (Ebenezer) when Yahweh helped Israel win the battle (1 Sam 7:12). Help (05828)('ezer) means aid, help, support, succor, assistance. 'Ezer refers to aid or assistance that is given, whether material or immaterial. It is often Jehovah Who helps His people (see verses below). Jehovah is called the shield or protection of Israel's help (Dt 33:29). The Septuagint (Lxx) translates 'ezer most often with the word group that includes: boáo, boetheo, boethos, all conveying the general idea of running to the aid of one who cries out for help. The Lord as Israel's chief Helper (Ex 18:4; Dt 33:7; Ps 33:20; Ps 115:9, 10, 11). Israel spurns Jehovah's help in (Ho 13:9) Ezer - 21x in 21v - help(18), helper(2), helpers(1). - Gen. 2:18; Gen. 2:20; Exod. 18:4; Deut. 33:7; Deut. 33:26; Deut. 33:29; Ps. 20:2; Ps. 33:20; Ps. 70:5; Ps. 89:19; Ps. 115:9; Ps. 115:10; Ps. 115:11; Ps. 121:1; Ps. 121:2; Ps. 124:8; Ps. 146:5; Isa. 30:5; Ezek. 12:14; Dan. 11:34; Hos. 13:9 See also Jehovah Ezer: The LORD our Helper Play Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Come, Thou Fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodious sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it Mount of Thy redeeming love Here I raise my Ebenezer Here there by Thy great help I've come And I hope, by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He, to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood Oh, that day when freed from sinning I shall see Thy lovely face Clothed then in the blood washed linen How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace Come, my Lord, no longer tarry Take my ransomed soul away Send Thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless day Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be Let that goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above And delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh - Eliezer's name is linked directly with Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The idea of delivered (natsal)is clearly a key word in Exodus 18 where it is repeated five times - Ex 18:4, 8, 9, 10 (2x in v10 with reference to Pharaoh). Delivered (05337)(natsal) means primarily to deliver, often by the power of one entity overcoming another. Deliverance from the hand or power (Ge 32:11, Hos 2:10). Idols and human might cannot deliver (1 Sa 12:21, Ps 33:16). This verb was first used in Exodus of Moses when the daughters of Jethro told their father "“An Egyptian delivered (natsal) us from the hand of the shepherds." (Ex 2:19+). Later, when Moses met Jehovah in the Burning Bush the LORD gave Moses this prophetic promise "I have come down to deliver (natsal) them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite." (Ex 3:8+,cf similar promise in Ex 6:6+). Later in Israel's history God reminded Israel who was downtrodden by Midian (context - Jdg 6:1-8) "‘I delivered (natsal) you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land." (Jdg 6:9+) Again after God gave Israel a king (Saul) "Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah; and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered (natsal) you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you." (1 Sa 10:17-18) David used this verb in Ps 51:14 pleading for deliverance from the guilt of his sin with Bathsheba "Deliver (natsal) me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness." Delivered is used several times in Exodus - Ex 2:19; Ex 3:8; Ex 3:22; Ex 5:23; Ex 6:6; Ex 12:27; Ex 12:36; Ex 18:4; Ex 18:8; Ex 18:9; Ex 18:10; Ex 33:6; All 4 uses of deliver are translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) by the verb exaireo (ek = out + aireo = to take, remove, seize) literally means to take out (used literally in Lxx of Jdg 14:9KJV "he took the honey out of the mouth of the lion"). In some context it means tear out or pluck out (Mt 5:29, 18:9, Lxx = Lev 14:40). To take out from a number. To select. In the middle voice (most of the uses in the Lxx and NT are middle voice) it means to take out for oneself and hence to rescue or deliver someone from a perilous or confining circumstance, setting them free. Spicq adds that "This idea of extracting or removing is indicated by the reflexive meaning of the middle voice, which places the beneficiaries of the act of deliverance in the hands of the agent of deliverance (Ed: Which in Gal 1:4+ is Jesus!)." Vine says that "the middle voice, suggests that He who thus delivers us has an interest in the result of His own act. The words in Gal 1:4 may be paraphrased, “Who gave Himself for our sins, in order that He might deliver us out of this present evil age that so we might belong to Him.” Exaireo signifies to deliver by rescuing from danger which certainly applies to Israel's situation before the Pharaoh in Egypt! Related Resources: American Tract Society Eliezer Easton's Bible Dictionary Eliezer Fausset Bible Dictionary Eliezer Holman Bible Dictionary Eliezer Hitchcock Bible Names Eliezer Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Eliezer Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Eliezer Wilson's Bible Types Eliezer Watson's Theological Dictionary Eliezer Exodus 18:5 Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. Ex 3:1,12 19:11,20 24:16,17 1Ki 19:8 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AT THE MOUNT OF GOD Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife - Clearly they had been back to Jethro at some point during Moses' interactions with Pharaoh (or before they began - the text does not tell us). NET Note on Mount of God in comparison to Ex 19:1-2 - The mountain of God is Horeb, and so the desert here must be the Sinai desert by it. But chap. 19 suggests that they left Rephidim to go the 24 miles to Sinai. It may be that this chapter fits in chronologically after the move to Sinai, but was placed here thematically. W To Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God - Recall that when Moses was still in Midian he "was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God," (Ex 3:1), so Jethro's residence must have been close or otherwise how could Moses have led a flock there if it had been a great distance. The phrase Mount of God is used only here, the more common name being the "mountain of God" (Ex 3:1; Ex 4:27; Ex 24:13; 1 Ki 19:8; Ps 68:15; Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16) The Mount (Mountain) of God - Also know as... Horeb (Ex 3:1; Ex 17:6; Ex 33:6; Dt. 1:2; Dt. 1:6; Dt. 1:19; Dt. 4:10; Dt. 4:15; Dt. 5:2; Dt. 9:8; Dt. 18:16; Dt. 29:1; 1 Ki. 8:9; 1 Ki. 19:8; 2 Chr. 5:10; Ps. 106:19; Mal. 4:4) Sinai (Ex 19:2, 11, 18, 20, 23; Ex 24:16; Ex 31:18; Ex 34:2, 4, 29, 32; Lev. 7:38; Lev. 25:1; Lev. 26:46; Lev. 27:34; Nu 1:1; Nu 1:19; Nu 3:1; Nu 3:4; Nu 3:14; Nu 9:1; Nu 9:5; Nu 10:12; Nu 26:64; Nu 28:6; Nu 33:15; Nu 33:16; Dt. 33:2; Jdg. 5:5; Neh. 9:13; Ps. 68:8; Ps. 68:17; Acts 7:30; Acts 7:38; Gal. 4:24; Gal. 4:25) Exodus 18:6 He sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her." said - i.e. by means of messengers sent beforehand, Mt 12:47 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries He sent word to Moses - Why did he need to send word? If there were 2 million Israelites, this was like the city of Houston, Texas. So it would not necessarily be easy to find Moses. I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her - This is the message that was conveyed to Moses from Jethro. This would be the first time he had seen them in several months (cf. Exodus 4:20), and they would not have experienced the Passover redemption by blood or the Red Sea deliverance by water. NET Note - This verse may seem out of place, since the report has already been given that they came to the desert. It begins to provide details of the event that the previous verse summarizes. The announcement in verse 6 may have come in advance by means of a messenger or at the time of arrival, either of which would fit with the attention to formal greetings in verse 7. This would suit a meeting between two important men; the status of Moses has changed. The LXX solves the problem by taking the pronoun “I” as the particle “behold” and reads it this way: “one said to Moses, ‘Behold, your father-in-law has come.…’ ” Exodus 18:7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. went - Ge 14:17 46:29 Nu 22:36 Jud 11:34 1Ki 2:19 Ac 28:15 bowed down - Ge 18:2 Ge 19:1 Ge 33:3-7 and kissed him- Ge 29:13 31:28 33:4 45:15 Ps 2:12 Lu 7:45 Ac 20:37 welfare - Ge 43:27 2Sa 11:7 Exodus 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES BOWS IN RESPECT TO JETHRO In the middle eastern culture bowing down and kissing were not acts of worship but acts demonstrating one's respect for the other person. Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him - Notice that Moses does not wait for Jethro to come to him, but he goes out to meet Jethro and in so doing, demonstrated his respect for his father-in-law, respect which underscored by his willingness to bow and kiss him. It is also notable that Jethro is mentioned before Zipporah and the sons. Moses now a man of considerable esteem ("a prophet of the Lord, a great prophet, and king in Jeshurun" - Matthew Henry) was still a humble man and expressed his respect and reverence for a man presumably older than himself. Moses' greeting would support the thought that Jethro, a priest in Midian, was a godly man and not a pagan priest. We see Abraham bowing down to the three men (one very likely a Christophany) who came to meet him in Genesis 18:2. In Ge 19:1 Lot bowed down to the angels. NET Note on bow down - This is more than polite oriental custom. Jethro was Moses’ benefactor, father-in-law, and a priest. He paid much respect to him. Now he could invite Jethro into his home Matthew