Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/329

Rh which therefore they should not despise. The head has need of the hands and feet, 1 Cor. 12. 21. Great men should not only study to be useful themselves, but contrive how to make others useful, according as their capacity is.

This is Jethro's advice, by which it appears, that, though Moses excelled him in prophecy, he excelled Moses in politics. Yet he adds two qualifications to his counsel,

[1.] That great care should be taken in the choice of the persons who should be admitted into this trust; (v. 21.) they must be able men, &c. It was requisite that they should be men of the best character, First, 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. Clear heads and stout hearts make good judges. Secondly, For piety and religion; such as fear God, as believe there is a God above them, whose eye is upon them, to Whom they are accountable, and whose judgment they stand in awe of; conscientious men, that dare not do a base thing, though they could do it ever so secretly and securely. The fear of God is that principle which will best fortify a man against all temptations to injustice, Neh. 5. 15. Gen. 42. 18. Thirdly, For integrity and honesty; men of truth, whose word one may take, and whose fidelity one may rely upon; who would not for a world tell a lie, betray a trust, or act an insidious part. Fourthly, For a noble and generous contempt of worldly wealth; hating covetousness, not only not seeking bribes, or aiming to enrich themselves, but abhorring the thought of it; he is fit to be a magistrate, and he alone, who despiseth the gain of oppression, and shaketh his hands from the holding of bribes, Isa. 33. 15.

[2.] That he should attend God's direction in the case; (v. 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. Note, Advice must be given with a humble submission to the word and providence of God, which must always over-rule.

Now Moses did not despise this advice, because it came from one not acquainted, as he was, with the words of God, and the visions of the Almighty; but he hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, v. 24. When he came to consider the thing, he saw the reasonableness of what his father-in-law offered, and resolved to put it in practice, which he did soon afterward, when he had received directions from God in that matter. Note, Those are not so wise as they would be thought to be, who think themselves too wise to be counselled; for a wise man (one who is truly so) will hear, and will increase learning, and not slight good counsel, though given by an inferior. Moses did not leave the election of the magistrates to the people, who had already done enough to prove themselves unfit for such a trust; but he chose them, and appointed them, some for greater, others for lesser divisions, the lesser, probably, subordinate to the greater. We have reason to value government as a very great mercy, and to thank God for laws and magistrates, so that we are not like the fishes of the sea, where the greater devour the lesser.

III. Jethro's return to his own land, v. 27. No doubt he took home with him the improvements he had made in the knowledge of God, and communicated them to his neighbours for their instruction. It is supposed that the Kenites (mentioned, 1 Sam. 15. 6.) were the posterity of Jethro, (compare Judg. 1. 16.) and they are there taken under special protection, for the kindness their ancestor here showed Israel. The good-will showed to God's people, even in the smallest instances, shall in no wise lose its reward, but shall be recompensed, at furthest, in the resurrection.

CHAP. XIX. This chapter introduces the solemnity of the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, which was one of the most striking appearances of the Divine Glory that ever was in this lower world. We have here, I. The circumstances of time and place, v. 1, 2. II. The covenant between God and Israel settled in general. The gracious proposal God made to them: (v. 3..6.) and their consent to the proposal, v. 7, 8. III. Notice given, three days before, of God's design to give the law out of a thick cloud, v. 9. Orders given to prepare the people to receive the law; (v. 10..13.) and care taken to execute those orders, v. 14, 15. IV. A terrible appearance of God's glory upon mount Sinai, v. 16..20. V. Silence proclaimed, and strict charges given to the people to observe decorum, while God spake to them, v. 21..25.

N the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3. And Moses went up unto God, and the called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4. Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5. Now therefore, If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7. And Moses came, and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the commanded him. 8. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the.

Here is,

I. The date of the great charter by which Israel was incorporated. 1. The time when it bears date; (v. 1.) in the third month after they came out of Egypt. It is computed that the law was given just fifty days after their coming out of Egypt, in remembrance of which, the feast of Pentecost was observed the fiftieth day after the passover; and, in compliance with which, the Spirit was poured out upon the apostles, at the feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the death of Christ. In Egypt, they had spoken of a three days' journey into the wilderness to the place of the sacrifice, (ch. 5. 3. ) but it proved to be almost a two months' journey; so often are we out in calculation of times; and things prove longer in the doing than we expected. 2. The place whence it bears date; from mount Sinai, a place which nature, not art, had made eminent and conspicuous, for it was the highest of all that range of mountains. Thus God put contempt upon cities, and palaces, and magnificent structures, setting up his pavilion on the top of a high mountain, in a