Exodus 18:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yitro Moshe's father-in-law brought Moshe's sons and wife to him in the desert where he was encamped, at the mountain of God.

Berean Standard Bible:

Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

American Standard Version:

And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Jethro^{H3503}, Moses^{H4872}' father in law^{H2859}, came^{H935} with his sons^{H1121} and his wife^{H802} unto Moses^{H4872} into the wilderness^{H4057}, where he encamped^{H2583} at the mount^{H2022} of God^{H430}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 18:5

1. **Themes:**
- **Hospitality and Family Ties:** The verse emphasizes the importance of family relationships and hospitality, as Moses welcomes his father-in-law Jethro and his family into his camp in the wilderness.
- **Guidance and Wisdom:** Jethro's visit is significant because he later provides valuable administrative advice to Moses, illustrating the theme of seeking and heeding wise counsel.
- **Divine Presence:** The mention of "the mount of God" reinforces the theme of God's presence with His people and His chosen leaders, in this case, Moses.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The event takes place during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, which is traditionally dated around the 13th century BCE.
- **Leadership Challenge:** Moses was leading a large number of people through difficult conditions, which was becoming increasingly challenging for him to manage alone.
- **Jethro's Role:** Jethro, also known as Reuel, was a Midianite priest. His visit occurs before the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Jethro's advice to Moses to delegate authority and establish a system of judges would later be reflected in the organizational structure of the Israelite community.
- **Cultural Context:** The interaction between Moses and Jethro also highlights the intercultural and interfaith dialogue of the time, showcasing how a non-Israelite could recognize and support the work of the God of Israel.

In summary, Exodus 18:5 introduces a pivotal moment where family loyalty and wise counsel intersect, set against the backdrop of the Israelites' foundational journey in the wilderness, under the guidance of a leader who is open to external advice and support.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3503
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִתְרוֹ
   Transliteration: Yithrôw
   Pronunciation: yith-ro'
   Description: from יֶתֶר with pron. suffix; his excellence; Jethro, Moses' father-in-law; Jethro. Compare יֶתֶר.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2859
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָתַן
   Transliteration: châthan
   Pronunciation: khaw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage; join in affinity, father in law, make marriages, mother in law, son in law.
   
4. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4057
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִדְבָּר
   Transliteration: midbâr
   Pronunciation: mid-bawr'
   Description: from דָבַר in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2583
   There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָנָה
   Transliteration: chânâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָנַן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2022
   There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הַר
   Transliteration: har
   Pronunciation: har
   Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion.
   
10. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.