Exodus 18 Study Notes
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18:1-27 The events in this chapter mark a turning point in the book of Exodus. The first half looks back at what had happened and describes responses to it, while the second half looks ahead by showing the need for the Israelites to be organized to conduct life with one another as a nation. At the end of Ex 18, Moses and Jethro part company, but Nm 10:11,29-32 indicates that Moses’s father-in-law was with the Israelites when they left Mount Sinai after the events in chaps. 19-40 had taken place.
kaved
| Hebrew pronunciation | [kah VAID] |
| CSB translation | heavy |
| Uses in Exodus | 12 |
| Uses in the OT | 41 |
| Focus passage | Exodus 17:12 |
The adjective kaved (41x) relates to the verb kaved, be heavy, and kabod, glory. It denotes heavy (Ex 17:12). It describes severe famine (Gn 12:10) or the worst hail (Ex 9:18). A procession is impressive, and mourning solemn (Gn 50:9,11). Mouth and tongue are sluggish (Ex 4:10), and language difficult (Ezk 3:5). Clouds (Ex 19:16) or swarms of flies (Ex 8:24) are thick. Numbers are large (Ex 10:14). Kaved indicates great peoples (1Kg 3:9) and massive armies (2Kg 6:14). Individuals are unresponsive (Ex 7:14) or weighed down (Is 1:4). They are rich in livestock (Gn 13:2). Koved (4x) denotes heaviness (Pr 27:3), stress (Is 21:15), and mound (Nah 3:3). Kevuddah is rendered possessions (Jdg 18:21), luxurious (Ezk 23:41), and glorious (Ps 45:13). Kevudut is difficulty (Ex 14:25). Kaved as liver (14x, Ex 29:13) could be a homonym, but ancient Galen called it the body’s heavy organ.
18:1-2 Earlier mentions of Jethro and Zipporah are in 2:18-21; 3:1; 4:18-26. Nothing is said about when or why Moses had sent his family to stay with Jethro.
18:3-4 Gershom was introduced in 2:22. He was no longer an alien in Egypt or a fugitive in Midian. Eliezer is mentioned here for the first time, perhaps because now his name has even more to commemorate, since the Lord had repeatedly helped Moses and had rescued him from two pharaohs who wanted to kill him.
18:5 Moses was back at the place where the Lord had first spoken to him from the burning bush (3:1-4).
18:6-9 These details present Jethro and Moses as men of rank and dignity. Previously Moses took polite leave of Jethro (4:18-19); now Moses acts as the host. Jethro showed deference by announcing his coming, and Moses showed deference by coming to meet him and by bowing. All this shows who Moses had become and portrays Jethro as a person qualified to offer advice.
18:10-11 The references to rescue from the power of Egypt continue the use of “hand” in Hebrew as a prominent means by which power is displayed. God had become known through his rescue of Israel from Egypt (6:7; 9:14; 14:18; 16:12). The breadth of the word translated know could mean that Jethro was previously unconvinced of the Lord’s superiority, or that he was simply declaring a new awareness from experience. Either way, he was convinced and glad to say so. Jethro’s response contrasts with that of Pharaoh and exemplifies how the Israelites and the readers of Exodus should respond to learning about who the Lord is from his actions.
18:12 Recognition of the Lord and his actions led to worship, a fulfillment of the sign that he gave Moses at the burning bush (3:12). A burnt offering was consumed by fire, and parts of sacrifices were burned, but most was roasted and eaten by people present to worship and celebrate (Lv 1:2-17; 3:1-17; 7:11-18).
18:13-26 This section answers the Israelite who asked Moses, “Who made you a commander and judge over us?” (2:14). In a sense, it also answers Moses’s questions and misgivings about his ability (3:11; 4:10-13; 6:12,30).
18:13-20 Jethro was thinking of conflicts between Israelites when he said that Moses should distribute the tasks of rendering judgments.
18:21-22 The word translated commanders is the plural of the one in 2:14. It is used repeatedly in 18:21,25 (lit “commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds,” etc.). This tends to strengthen the tie with the question about Moses’s status in 2:14. Jethro’s list of qualifications for leadership requires qualities of character, belief, and behavior rather than age, wealth, or family position (Dt 1:13,16-17; 2Ch 19:6-7,9-10).
18:23-27 The verb rendered endure can also mean “stand.” It repeats the Hebrew verb for “stand/endure” from the descriptions in vv. 13 and 14 of the people standing around Moses waiting for him to hear their cases. If Moses followed Jethro’s advice, the people would not have to “stand around” so much and Moses would be able to “stand” the work.