The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 92

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 13-27.-The appointment of fudges. During the few days that Jethro was with Moses, he did the latter an essential service, and initiated nothing short of a revolution in the manner of conducting judicial business. Besides its i=ediate lessons (noted below), this incident of the appointment of judges is valuable as illus- trating-I. The scope left in the arrangements of Israel for the independent action of the hurnan mind. Various examples of this occur in the hist07-.g., the retention of Hobab as a guide in the wanderings (Num. x. 31), and the suggestion of the spies (Deut. i. 22). 2. The truth that in God's ways of dealing with Israel, existing capabilities were utilised to the utmost. We have seen this in regard to the miracles, •md again in the conflict with Amalek ; it is now to be noted in the formation of a polity. The same principle probably applies to what is said in ver. 16 of Moses making the people to "know the statutes of God and his laws." That Moses, in giving forth these statutes, acted under supernatural direction, and frequently by express instruction of God, is not to be denied; but it is equally certain that existing usages, embodying principles of right, were taken advantage of as far as they went. We cannot err in supposing that it is this same case-made law which, in its com- J>leted form, and under special Divine sanction, is embodied in the co<le of chs. x.xi-xxiii. But neither in substance nor in form is this code, so various in its details, a direct Divine product. It grew up under Moses' hand in these decisions in the wilderness. 'l'raditional ruaterials were freely incorporated into it. 3. The assistnnce which a man of moderate gifts is oftan capable of rendering to another, greatly his superior. Jcthro's was certainly a mind of no ordinary capacity; but we do this excellent man no injustice in speaking of his gifts as moderate in comparison with the splendid abilities of Moses. Yet his natural shrewdness and plain common-se11so enabled him to detect a blunder in Mose8' system of a<lm.inistr.~n of which the lawgiver himself was  THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [en. xvm. 13-27.