Exodus 2:18

KJV

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?

KJV (with Strong's)

And when they came {H935} to Reuel {H7467} their father {H1}, he said {H559}, How {H4069} is it that ye are come {H935} so soon {H4116} to day {H3117}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When they came to Re'u'el their father, he said, "How come you're back so soon today?"

Berean Standard Bible

When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

American Standard Version

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 2:18 captures the surprised inquiry of Reuel, a Midianite priest, to his daughters upon their unusually swift return from watering their flocks. This seemingly simple question serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting Moses's recent act of justice and intervention at the well, and setting the stage for his welcome into Reuel's household, demonstrating God's providential hand guiding Moses's path even in exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Moses's heroic intervention at the well in Midian, where he defended Reuel's daughters from hostile shepherds and watered their flocks ([Exodus 2:17](/exodus/2-17 "Moses helps Reuel's daughters at the well")). The narrative flow is direct and consequential: Moses helps the women, they return home, and their father, Reuel, notices their uncharacteristic speed. His question, "How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?", acts as a narrative device to prompt the daughters to recount Moses's actions, thereby introducing Moses to Reuel and leading to his integration into their family. This brief exchange is crucial, as it transitions Moses from a solitary fugitive to a welcomed member of a household, a necessary step in God's long-term plan for his life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, wells were vital communal gathering places, often scenes of both social interaction and conflict, particularly over access to water for livestock. For women to be watering flocks was not uncommon, but they were often vulnerable to stronger, male shepherds, as indicated by the daughters being driven away in [Exodus 2:17](/exodus/2-17 "Moses helps Reuel's daughters at the well"). The act of watering flocks was laborious and time-consuming, making the daughters' early return highly unusual. Hospitality was a deeply ingrained cultural value, especially towards strangers who had performed a good deed. Reuel's immediate concern for his daughters and his subsequent invitation to Moses reflect this cultural norm, where welcoming a benefactor into one's home was a moral imperative and a sign of honor.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Exodus and beyond. It powerfully illustrates **Divine Providence**, showing how God orchestrates seemingly random events—Moses's flight, his arrival at a specific well, and his encounter with Reuel's daughters—to fulfill His larger redemptive purposes. It also reinforces the theme of **Justice and Compassion**, as Moses, even in his personal crisis, instinctively acts to defend the vulnerable, foreshadowing his future role as a deliverer of the oppressed Israelites. Furthermore, the narrative subtly introduces the theme of **Preparation for Leadership**, as Moses's time in Midian, commencing with this encounter, serves as a crucial forty-year period of formation and spiritual maturation before his divine calling at [the burning bush](/exodus/3-1-10 "The Burning Bush and Moses's Call").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Reuel (Hebrew, _Rᵉʻûwʼêl'_):** From the same root as "friend" and "God," meaning "friend of God" or "shepherd of God." This name is highly significant, fitting for a priest of Midian and for the man who would become Moses's father-in-law, a key figure in Moses's life and a recipient of divine counsel through Moses (e.g., [Exodus 18](/exodus/18 "Jethro's Counsel to Moses")). His name foreshadows his role in God's plan.
* **How (Hebrew, _maddûwaʻ'_):** Derived from "what (is) known?" and implying "why?" or "wherefore." Reuel's use of this interrogative particle conveys genuine surprise and curiosity. It's not a mere rhetorical question but an earnest inquiry into the unexpected circumstances of his daughters' early return, signaling that something highly unusual, and likely beneficial, has occurred.
* **soon (Hebrew, _mâhar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to be liquid or flow easily," implying "to hurry" or "to be prompt." When used adverbially, as here, it emphasizes the unexpected speed of their return. This word highlights the stark contrast between their usual arduous experience at the well and the sudden ease they encountered due to Moses's intervention, making Reuel's question all the more pertinent.
* **father (Hebrew, _ʼâb'_):** A primitive word for "father," used literally here to denote Reuel's paternal relationship with his daughters. This term underscores the familial context of the verse, emphasizing the natural concern and authority of a father over his household, and setting the stage for Moses to be integrated into this family unit.
* **day (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** From an unused root meaning "to be hot," referring to a day (as the warm hours), or a space of time. Here, "to day" (or "today") functions adverbially to specify the particular time of their unexpected early return, contrasting it with their usual, longer duration at the well.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they came to Reuel their father":** This clause establishes the immediate action following the daughters' encounter with Moses at the well. Their arrival home is presented as a direct consequence of Moses's intervention, setting the scene for the subsequent dialogue. The mention of "Reuel their father" emphasizes the familial context and the natural authority figure to whom they would report.
* **"he said":** This simple phrase introduces Reuel's direct speech, indicating his immediate response to his daughters' presence. It highlights his active role in the narrative, as his words initiate the crucial conversation that will bring Moses into their lives.
* **"How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?":** This is the core of Reuel's inquiry, expressing his profound surprise. The phrase "How [is it that]" (from the Hebrew _maddûwaʻ'_) conveys his perplexity and implies an understanding of the usual difficulties his daughters faced at the well. The adverb "so soon" (from _mâhar'_) emphasizes the unexpected promptness of their return, signaling that their routine had been significantly altered, prompting his curiosity and setting the stage for their explanation of Moses's heroic deed.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Inquiry** as a narrative device, where Reuel's question serves to propel the plot forward by eliciting the daughters' explanation, which in turn leads to Moses's invitation into the household. There is a subtle **Dramatic Irony** at play, as Reuel asks "how" they returned so quickly, unaware that the very man who would become his son-in-law and the future deliverer of Israel was the cause. The unexpected "soon" also creates a sense of **Anticipation**, building curiosity in the reader about the reason for their early arrival and the identity of their helper. Furthermore, the scene functions as **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at Moses's future role as a deliverer and protector, as his actions here mirror the larger deliverance he will orchestrate for Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 2:18 profoundly illustrates God's meticulous **Sovereignty and Providence**, demonstrating how seemingly ordinary or even adverse circumstances are woven into His grand tapestry of redemption. Moses's flight from Pharaoh, an act of desperation, leads him directly to this providential encounter, highlighting that God's plans are not thwarted but rather advanced through human events. This incident underscores God's active involvement in the lives of His chosen instruments, guiding them to the right place at the right time for His purposes. The prompt return of the daughters, facilitated by Moses, is a small but significant detail orchestrated by divine design, ensuring Moses's integration into a family that would nurture him for his future colossal task.

* [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Joseph's statement on God's sovereignty")
* [Psalm 37:23](/psalms/37-23 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord")
* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 2:18, though brief, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It encourages us to cultivate an awareness of God's unseen hand at work, even in the mundane or unexpected turns of our lives. Just as Moses's desperate flight led him to a divinely appointed encounter, our own detours, setbacks, or seemingly random interactions may be precisely orchestrated steps toward God's next season or calling for us. This verse also challenges us to embody Moses's proactive compassion and sense of justice: to be attentive to the needs of those around us, especially the vulnerable, and to offer help without being asked, reflecting God's own character. Furthermore, Reuel's simple question and subsequent welcoming of Moses remind us of the transformative power of hospitality and the importance of acknowledging the good deeds of others. Simple acts of kindness and welcome can have far-reaching, even globally significant, impacts, opening doors for God's purposes to unfold through us and others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How can I cultivate a greater awareness of God's providential hand in the seemingly ordinary or unexpected events of my own life?**
* **In what ways can I, like Moses, proactively demonstrate justice and compassion for the vulnerable in my sphere of influence, even when it's inconvenient or costly?**
* **What opportunities for hospitality might God be presenting to me, and how might welcoming others, even strangers, be a pathway for God's purposes to unfold?**
* **When faced with unexpected circumstances, how does Reuel's inquisitive response encourage me to seek understanding and discern God's activity rather than reacting with frustration or fear?**

### FAQ
**Who was Reuel, and why is he also called Jethro?**

Answer: Reuel is identified in this verse as the father of Moses's wife, Zipporah, and he is described as a priest of Midian. In later chapters of Exodus, particularly from [Exodus 3:1](/exodus/3-1 "Jethro, Moses's father-in-law") onwards, he is consistently referred to as Jethro. Biblical scholars commonly understand that Jethro was likely his personal name, while Reuel might have been a clan name, an ancestral name, or perhaps a title. The biblical text uses both names interchangeably to refer to the same individual, highlighting his significant role in Moses's life and the early history of Israel.

**Why was it unusual for Reuel's daughters to return so soon?**

Answer: As indicated in the preceding verse, [Exodus 2:17](/exodus/2-17 "Moses helps Reuel's daughters at the well"), other shepherds would typically drive Reuel's daughters away from the well, making the task of watering their flocks arduous and time-consuming. This competition and harassment meant they usually spent a much longer time at the well. Their early return signaled that the usual obstacles had been overcome and that their task had been completed with unusual ease and speed, implying that someone had intervened to help them, which naturally piqued Reuel's curiosity.

**What does this verse reveal about Moses's character?**

Answer: This verse, in conjunction with [Exodus 2:17](/exodus/2-17 "Moses helps Reuel's daughters at the well"), profoundly highlights Moses's innate sense of justice, his courage, and his willingness to intervene on behalf of the oppressed. He had previously defended a Hebrew slave in Egypt ([Exodus 2:11-12](/exodus/2-11-12 "Moses kills an Egyptian")) and now, without hesitation, defends Midianite women who are strangers to him. This consistent pattern of righteous action and compassion, regardless of tribal or national affiliation, demonstrates a core aspect of his character that foreshadows his future role as Israel's divinely appointed deliverer and lawgiver.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Exodus 2:18 primarily details a pivotal moment in Moses's life, it subtly points to Christ through its underlying themes of divine providence, the unexpected arrival of a deliverer, and the provision of refuge. Moses, as a significant type of Christ, intervenes to bring justice and provide for the vulnerable, much as Christ would ultimately intervene to deliver humanity from the oppression of sin and provide the living water of salvation ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "Jesus offers living water to the Samaritan woman")). The welcoming of Moses, a stranger and a fugitive, into Reuel's home foreshadows Christ's radical invitation for us to enter His family, where He provides ultimate refuge, belonging, and provision for all who come to Him ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden")). Just as Moses was a shepherd to Reuel's flock and later to the nation of Israel, Christ is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, ensuring their eternal provision, protection, and guidance ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "Jesus, the Good Shepherd")). This seemingly small domestic scene thus reflects the broader divine narrative of God's sovereign care and His ultimate provision of a Deliverer in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 3:1

¶ Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.

Exodus 4:18

¶ And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which [are] in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Numbers 10:29

¶ And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

Exodus 18:1

¶ When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, [and] that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;

Exodus 18:12

And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.

Numbers 19:20

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he [is] unclean.