Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
2 4. In all probability an addition of the compiler, made for the purpose of harmonizing the statement in v. 5 that Moses’ sons (in the plural) and his wife were with Jethro, with Exo 2:15 (J) which mentions the birth of Gershom only, and Exo 4:25 (J) which implies that Moses had no other son, and with Exo 4:20 a, 24 26 (also J), where it is stated that Moses took Zipporah back with him to Egypt. The compiler removes the first of these difficulties by supplying the name of Moses’ younger son, and the second by the statement that Moses had ‘sent’ Zipporah ‘away,’ i.e. had sent her back to Midian at some time after the incident Exo 4:24-26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. After he had sent her back] Why Zipporah and her two sons returned to Midian, is not certainly known. From the transaction recorded Ex 4:20; Ex 4:24, it seems as if she had been alarmed at the danger to which the life of one of her sons had been exposed, and fearing worse evils, left her husband and returned to her father. It is however possible that Moses, foreseeing the troubles to which his wife and children were likely to be exposed had he taken them down to Egypt, sent them back to his father-in-law till it should please God to deliver his people.
Jethro, now finding that God had delivered them, and totally discomfited the Egyptians, their enemies, thought it proper to bring Zipporah and her sons to Moses, while he was in the vicinity of Horeb.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
From the way to Egypt, upon the occasion mentioned Exo 4:24,25, and because he found by experience that she was likely to hinder him from, or discourage him in, the discharge of his great and dangerous office, and to give an ill example to the Israelites.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’s wife,…. When he had heard of the above things, he determined to pay Moses a visit, and congratulate him on that account; and he took his daughter, the wife of Moses, along with him, to deliver her to her husband, to share with him in his cares and troubles; as to partake with him of his honours and dignity, so to bear part with him in his burdens, so far as she was capable of:
after he had sent her back: upon his call and mission to Egypt, he took his wife and children with him; but upon an affair which occurred in the inn by the way, he sent them back again to his father-in-law, where they had remained ever since, see Ex 4:24. Jarchi says this was done at meeting with Aaron his brother, Ex 4:27, and relates a conversation between them upon it. As that Aaron should say to him, who are these? to which he replied, this is my wife, I married her in Midian, and these are my sons: he further said to him, and where art thou carrying them? he replied, to Egypt; says he, by reason of those who are before there, we are in straits, and thou wilt add unto them; upon which he said to his wife, go back to thy father’s house, and she took her sons and went thither. Kimchi f observes, that some render the words “after her gifts”; whose sense, according to Aben Ezra, is, after she had sent gifts to her husband; but others more probably interpret it of gifts sent by him to her to engage his father-in-law to let her come to him, as well as to prevail upon her to come; perhaps it may be better rendered, “after her messenger”; that is, either after the messenger sent to her by Moses, to acquaint her and her father of what had been done for him, or after the messenger she sent to him, to let him know that she intended shortly to be with him; though perhaps, after all, nearer to our version and others, it may be rendered, “after her dismissions” g; the dismission or sending away of her and her sons, as before related; for this is by no means to be interpreted of a divorce of her; after which she was brought again to her husband; for there is no reason to believe that ever anything of that kind had passed, as some have thought h: the plain case seems to be this, that Moses finding his family would be exposed to danger, or would be too great an incumbrance upon him in the discharge of his great work he had to do in Egypt, sent them back to his father-in-law until a fit opportunity should offer of their coming to him, as now did.
f Sepher Shorash. rad. “post dona vel donationes ejus”; so some in Vatablus and Drusius. g “post dimissiones ejus”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius. h Vid. Selden. Uxor. Hebr. p. 629.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2)After he had sent her back.Heb., after her dismissal. The fact had not been previously stated, but is in harmony with the general narrative, which has been absolutely silent concerning Zipporah since Exo. 4:26. Moses had sent Zipporah back to her own relations, either in anger, on account of the scene described in Exo. 4:24-26, or simply that he might not be encumbered with wife and children during the dangers and troubles which he anticipated in Egypt. Jethro assumed that, as the main troubles were now over, he would be glad to have his wife and children restored to him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(2) He does not simply judgei.e., decide the particular question brought before him; but he takes the opportunity to educate and instruct the people in delivering his judgmentshe makes them know the statutes of God and His lawshe expounds principles and teaches morality. Both reasons were clearly of great weight, and constituted strong arguments in favour of his practice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. After he had sent her back See notes on Exo 4:24-26. The discrepancies which some interpreters find between this account and Moses’s return into Egypt narrated in Exo 4:18-26, are creations of their own fancy . Our historian has not given us all the details . The statement of Exo 4:20, that Moses took his wife and sons, and “returned to the land of Egypt,” is seen from the immediate context to mean that he started with them to return, and that they accompanied him until the incident which occurred by the way (Exo 18:24-26) served as an occasion for her returning with her sons to her father’s house . This simple and natural supposition solves all the difficulties, and is itself suggested by the record here given . The work and exposures of Moses in Egypt made it expedient that his wife and children return and abide in Midian until he should return home from Egypt at the head of his people . Another reasonable hypothesis is, that Moses took his wife and sons to Egypt, and that after the opposition to his mission became formidable, he secretly sent them back from Egypt to the home of Jethro.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 18:2. After he had sent her back The Vulgate, which Houbigant follows and approves, renders this quam remiserat; whom he had sent back. See ch. Exo 4:24, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 4:24-27 . See the gospel sense of this: Mat 19:29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 18:2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,
Ver. 2. After he had sent her back. ] Because she was troublesome with her peevishness, and a hindrance to the good work in hand. Exo 4:25-26 Sulla felix fuisset ni uxorem duxisset; Adrianus ni imperitasset; Moses, both.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sent her back. Probably at Exo 4:26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Zipporah: Exo 2:21, Exo 4:25, Exo 4:26
Reciprocal: Exo 18:24 – General Act 7:29 – Madian
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18:2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had {a} sent her back,
(a) It may seem that he sent her back for a time to her father for her impatience, lest she should be a hinderance to his calling, which was so dangerous, Exo 4:25.