When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make [them] known the statutes of God, and his laws.
16. a matter ] i.e. a matter in dispute, cf. Exo 22:9, Exo 24:14. So vv. 22, 26 (‘cause’ in vv. 19, 26, is also the same Heb.: lit. word).
the statutes of God and his directions ] ‘ “Statutes” ( um) were definite rules, stereotyped and permanent; “laws” ( trth) were “directions” or pronouncements delivered as special circumstances required them [see p. 161]. The present passage must belong to the period after Moses received the divine statutes on the mountain [cf. p. 162]’ (McNeile). Observe that the decisions of Moses on civil disputes are here called distinctly the ‘directions ( trth) of God ’ (cf. on v. 15, and pp. 161, 162).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.] These words are so very particular that they leave little room for doubt that the law had been given. Such words would scarcely have been used had not the statutes and laws been then in existence. And this is one of the proofs that the transaction mentioned here stands out of its due chronological order; See Clarke on Ex 18:5.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Do interpret and apply them to their several cases and circumstances.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
When they have a matter, they come unto me,…. This is the other thing he did for them, as the above writer observes; which being last mentioned, he speaks of first, as follows, meaning that when there was a matter in difference between two persons or more, and they could not agree upon it among themselves, then they brought it to him to be heard and decided:
and I judge between one and another; hear what they have to say on both sides, and then judge which is in the right and which is in the wrong, and determine what is to be done, according to the laws of God or according to the rules of justice and equity:
and I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws; this relates to the first thing, their coming to him to inquire of God, what is his mind and will, or what he would have them do; and in order to this, and in answer to their request, he instructed them in the laws of God, both civil and religious: this is made use of by some, to prove that Jethro’s coming to Moses was after the law was given: but this does not necessarily follow, because Moses, by a divine impulse, might be directed immediately to make known to the people what was the will and mind of God, with respect to any particular case they inquired about; and rather this seems to furnish out an argument to the contrary, since, if the laws and statutes of God had yet been given on Mount Sinai, the people could not have been ignorant of them, and so needed not such daily information and instruction from Moses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. A matter A matter of controversy requiring the intervention of a judge .
I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws The statutes and laws ( torahs) are not naturally understood of such enactments and “judgments” as Moses is commanded, in Exo 21:1, to set before the people . As matters of dispute arose, the judgments sought of Moses afforded him a most fitting opportunity to communicate to the people such statutes and laws as many of those recorded in chaps. 21 and 22. The people observed that Jehovah talked from heaven with their great leader, (Exo 20:18-22,) and would thenceforth accept his word as a God-given oracle. Compare Exo 18:15. The way in which Moses in this verse speaks of his judging the people, and making them know the laws, implies something that had already become habitual with him a thing hardly supposable before their arrival at Sinai. This passage also suggests how Moses may have orally set forth many statutes and ordinances both before and after he had written them in a book.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 18:16. When they have a matter, [ dabar, any subject of business or litigation] I judge between man and man; and, being in the place of God, and instructed by him, inform them of the statutes and laws by which he would have them governed. From hence it does not follow that the law was or was not given, since Moses had constant access to, and received answers from the Divine Oracle in doubtful cases; see Num 33:35; Num 25:4; Num 25:18 and in ordinary cases, no doubt, he was instructed by the eternal law of reason and equity; that candle of the Lord, by which he enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world. See Deu 1:17.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 18:16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make [them] know the statutes of God, and his laws.
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
statutes of God. Those before Sinai. See App-15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a matter: Exo 23:7, Exo 24:14, Deu 17:8-12, 2Sa 15:3, Job 31:13, Act 18:14, Act 18:15, 1Co 6:1
one and another: Heb. a man and his fellow, Exo 2:13
make: Lev 24:15, Num 15:35, Num 27:6-11, Num 36:6-9, Deu 4:5, Deu 5:1, Deu 6:1, 1Sa 12:23, Mat 28:20, 1Th 4:1, 1Th 4:2
Reciprocal: Exo 18:20 – teach Lev 24:12 – that the mind of the Lord might be showed them Deu 33:5 – king Jdg 4:5 – came up 2Sa 15:2 – came 1Ki 3:16 – stood Psa 19:8 – statutes
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 18:16-17. I judge between one another And if the people were as quarrelsome one with another as they were with God, he had many causes brought before him, and the more because their trials put them to no expense. Not good Not convenient either for thee or them.