Exodus 18:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Who was Moses? A prophet, a giver of the Law, a messenger of God. And who was Jethro? A priest of an unfamiliar worship, not part of the chosen people of God, yet having come to recognize the true knowledge of God through Moses. ‘Now,’ he states, “I have seen that the Lord is greater than all gods” (Ex. 18:11). Do you believe that this Jethro could offer assistance to Moses? Yet Jethro observed Moses weighed down by the challenges of the people, felt compassion for his plight, and willingly extended his help by advising him to implement a structured approach to judgments. This serves as an example presented in the scripture, reminding us that those who consider themselves wise and spiritually mature ought not to look down upon the simple and imperfect. Conversely, it encourages those who perceive their own spiritual shortcomings not to discourage themselves in their efforts to provide spiritual support to others, according to their abilities and insights.

The insightful acknowledgment of Jethro, recognizing that the Israelites were guided by the sovereign hand of God, is noteworthy. His frequent reference to Elohim is particularly significant, as Jethro was not part of the lineage of Abraham to whom the revealed God, Jehovah, was primarily revealed. Nevertheless, he had acquired knowledge of the name Jehovah from Moses (v. 11), which is cited in the same chapter reflecting the miracles performed for the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. This highlights the weakness in the critical approach that attempts to separate the Pentateuch into sections attributed to Jehovists and Elohists.