Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to Godward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
19, 20. be thou (emph.) to the people in front of God ] i.e. be thou (as hitherto) God’s representative to the people, and bring thou (again emph.) the causes, i.e., from the context (cf. vv. 22, 26), the more important or difficult cases, unto God for decision; and warn them of the statutes and the directions, and make them to know the way wherein they should walk, and the work that they should do. All this relates to what Moses has done already: he is, as he has already done, to bring important cases to God, and to advise the people of the general laws which follow from their determination (as, for instance, from a particular case of damage, there might result a decision which would give such a law as Exo 21:33-34), and so make known to them how they are to act when such cases arise. Jethro’s fresh suggestions for the future follow in vv. 21 23.
and God be with thee ] or, more probably (G.-K. 109 f), that God may be with thee to assist thee as He hardly will be, if thou undertakest what is altogether beyond thy powers.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Counsel – Jethro draws the distinction between the functions of the legislator and the judge.
To God-ward – Literally, before God, standing between them and God, both as His minister or representative and also as the representative of the people, their agent, so to speak, or deputy before God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee] Jethro seems to have been a man of great understanding and prudence. His advice to Moses was most appropriate and excellent; and it was probably given under the immediate inspiration of God, for after such sacrificial rites, and public acknowledgment of God, the prophetic spirit might be well expected to descend and rest upon him. God could have showed Moses the propriety and necessity of adopting such measures before, but he chose in this case to help man by man, and in the present instance a permanent basis was laid to consolidate the union of the two families, and prevent all future misunderstandings.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God shall be with thee, i.e. I doubt not God will assist and bless thee, as well in the course which I propose to thee, as in that which thou now dost use, because God is a God of order, and loves order; and he is a God of mercy, and would not have thee destroy thyself in his work. Or it may be taken for a prayer, and God be with thee, i.e. bless and assist thee therein.
To Godward, Heb. before God, i.e. in hard and weighty causes, which the inferior judges cannot determine, as it is explained Exo 18:22; where they need and seek direction from God, there thou shalt be as a mediator between God and them, to bring their matters to God, as it here follows, and to receive directions and commands from him. See Num 15:33,34; 27:5,6.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel,…. Jethro being the elder man, and of some character and figure, being either a priest or prince of Midian, or both, might, without incurring a censure, take upon him to give advice to Moses, a younger man, and his son-in-law, though he was superior to him in office and in parts; and especially since his advice proceeded from a sincere and cordial regard for his health and welfare:
and God shall be with thee: and succeed the advice he gave, which he persuaded himself would be agreeable to the will of God, and attending to it he would prosper, and find that the method taken would be blessed of God, and issue in his own good and the good of the people; or it may be taken prayerwise, as by some, “may God be with thee” s; to direct thee to what thou shouldest do, either to take the advice, or reject it; and be it as it will, he wished him well, and that he might have his health, and that as his day was, his strength might be:
be thou for the people to God-ward; or on the part of God, as Aben Ezra interprets it; that part of his work he advised him to retain by all means, which lay more immediately between God and the people; to be a mediator between them; to transact affairs for them with God; to inquire his mind and will in matters difficult and doubtful; to be, as Jarchi expresses it, a messenger and interpreter between them, and an inquirer of judgments of him, or what statutes and judgments he would have observed by them: that thou mayest bring the causes unto God; concerning which, as yet, he had given no directions as a rule to go by.
s see Poole in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19. I will give thee counsel. Jethro dares, indeed, to promise success, if Moses will obey his counsel; yet does he not proudly boast that this will be the fruit of his own prudence, but ascribes it to God’s blessing and grace, if he prospers even when nothing is established but on the best system. For this is the import of the expression, that a counsel occurs to him, which if Moses follows, God shall bless him. Nor yet does he reprove Moses, as if God had not been thus far with his pious zeal and industry, but rather hints that God is the author of this counsel, which He will follow up with His grace. In sum, he does not state it to be his Object to diminish in the smallest degree the grace which Moses had already experienced; but to point out a plan, of which God will, by its result, show His approbation. Then follows the other point to which I have alluded, viz., that he does not rob Moses of his authority, so as to overturn his call from God, but rather by exhorting him to proceed, desires that what God has once ordained should be firm and inviolable. It is well also for us diligently to consider that counsel be taken according to circumstances and expediency, so that there be no departure from the ordinance of God; because it is sinful to entertain the question whether we should obey God or not. Accursed, then, are the deliberations wherein it is proposed to alter anything in God’s Word, or to withdraw ourselves from the bounds of our calling. We have said that the burden whereby Moses was weighed down was not of God’s imposing; but only had he been set over the people as their leader, as far as his ability permitted. Jethro leaves this unaffected, and thus confirms by subscribing, as it were, to the decree of heaven. Because he was chosen to be as an interpreter, and God familiarly admitted him as the mediator between Him and His people, Jethro enjoins him to continue in the discharge of these duties. But because the possession of the supreme government did not interfere with the duty of a Prophet, he desired also the greater matters to be referred to him; for I so interpret the expressions, that Moses was to be “to God-ward,” for the delivery of the rule of piety, and for the performance of the prophetical office, whilst the weightier causes were to be referred by the rulers to him, that every one might have justice done him.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) God shall be with thee.Rather, may Go be with thee. May He give thee wisdom to direct the course aright.
Be thou for the people to God-ward.Be the person, i.e., to bring before God whatever needs to be brought before Him. Continue both to act as representative of the people towards God, and as representative of God towards the people. Take all difficult causes to Him, and pronounce to the people His decision upon them. Be also the expounder to the people of Gods laws and ordinances; be their moral instructor, and the guide of their individual actions (Exo. 18:20). All this is quite compatible with the change which I am about to recommend to thee.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. I will give thee counsel Like Melchizedek, “priest of the Most High God,” (Gen 14:18,) who blessed Abram, the father of the faithful, Jethro, another priest of like rank, assumes to counsel Moses the man of God . Conscious of holding an approved relationship toward God, he put forth his advice as one having a measure of authority over his son-in-law .
Be thou for the people to God-ward That is, be thou the representative and spokesman of the people before God, as the next sentence further explains . That thou mayest bring the causes ( , matters of controversy, comp . Exo 18:16) unto God Matters of great moment, on which divine counsel was to be sought, should be intrusted to Moses; but affairs of less importance might be left to inferior judges . Exo 18:22.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 18:19-20. Be thou for the people to God-ward] i.e. “Do thou continue still as the mediator between God and the people, going between them: bringing the causes of the people, or their affairs of consequence, before GOD, and receiving from him those statutes and ordinances, those declarations and decisions, which he shall make known to thee; and which thou, in consequence, shalt notify to them, shewing them the way wherein they must walk, and the work which they must do.” For the rest, leaving the decision of smaller matters, as is advised in the next verse.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
Ver. 19. I will give thee counsel. ] A Midianite counsels Moses: God hereby teacheth him humility.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Hearken now unto my voice
(Cf) Num 11:14-17. Jehovah entirely ignored this worldly-wise organization, substituting His own order.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Hearken: Exo 18:24, Pro 9:9
God shall: Exo 3:12, Exo 4:12, Gen 39:2, Deu 20:1, Jos 1:9, 2Sa 14:17, Mat 28:20
Be thou: Exo 18:15, Exo 4:16, Exo 20:19, Deu 5:5
bring: Num 27:5
Reciprocal: Gen 41:33 – look out Num 9:6 – they came Num 27:2 – General Deu 33:5 – king Jdg 4:5 – came up 1Sa 15:6 – ye showed 2Ch 19:8 – the judgment Ecc 10:10 – wisdom Mat 23:3 – whatsoever 2Co 3:4 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 18:19-23. Be thou for them to God-ward That was an honour in which it was not fit any other should share with him. Also whatever concerned the whole congregation must pass through his hand, Exo 18:20. But he appointed judges in the several tribes and families, which should try causes between man and man, and determine them, which would be done with less noise and more despatch than in the general assembly. Those whose gifts and stations are most eminent may yet be greatly furthered in their work by the assistance of those that are every way their inferiors. This is Jethros advice; but he adds two qualifications to his counsel. First, That great care should be taken in the choice of the persons who should be admitted into this trust; it was requisite that they should be men of the best character. 1st, For judgment and resolution, able men Men of good sense, that understood business; and bold men, that would not be daunted by frowns or clamours. 2d, For piety, such as fear God Who believe there is a God above them, that his eye is upon them, and that they are accountable to him, and who therefore stand in awe of his judgment. Conscientious men, that will not do a wrong thing, though they could do it never so secretly and securely. 3d, For honesty, men of truth Whose word one may take, and whose fidelity one may rely upon. 4th, For a generous contempt of worldly wealth; hating covetousness Not only not seeking bribes, or aiming to enrich themselves, but abhorring the thought of it. Secondly, That he should attend to Gods direction in the case, verse
23. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so Jethro knew that Moses had a better counsellor than he was, and to his counsel he refers him.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to {h} God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
(h) You judge in difficult cases, which cannot be decided without consulting with God.