Latest Commentaries

Moses continues recounting their exodus history. Due to lack of trust in the LORD, the Israelites rebelled against the command to go up to possess the land. They refused to take possession of what God had given.

Moses continues to recount Israel’s history in leaving Egypt up to this point. At Kadesh Barnea, he commanded the Israelites to go up and occupy the Promised Land because it has been given to them by the LORD, the one to whom all things belong. The people asked to send in a party to spy out the land, which Moses agreed to.

Moses reminds the people that he called upon the judges to conduct their legal procedures with equity, knowing that every judgment belongs to the LORD.

Moses recounts the story of Israel’s journey from Mount Horeb (Sinai). He had the people choose wise and respected men and appointed them as leaders because the Israelites had become so numerous.

Moses recounts Israel’s history after leaving Egypt. He begins by reminding the Israelites of God’s command to leave Mount Horeb, where they received the Law, in order to go and conquer the Promised Land.

Moses sets the historical and geographical context of the covenant message he is about to deliver to the Israelites. He intends to tell them all that God has commanded him.

Having heard his father-in-law’s advice, Moses implemented it. He appointed men at the various levels to do the judging of the less difficult matters, leaving only the most difficult ones to be brought to Moses. Once this was done, Jethro left to go back to his home in Midian.

The day after Jethro, Moses, Aaron, and the elders celebrated a sacrificial to honor the LORD, Moses went about his usual duties in managing the affairs of the people. On this day, his job was to mediate disputes and dispense justice when there was an issue between Israelites. This was an extremely burdensome task to Moses because it lasted all day. Jethro saw what it was doing to Moses and spoke to him about the wisdom of training others to share the responsibility of governing.

Exodus 18:5-12 describes the time when Jethro came to visit Moses in the wilderness near Mount Sinai. He was accompanied by Moses’ wife Zipporah and Moses’ two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. After joyfully greeting Jethro, Moses described all of the events from the deliverance to the Red Sea onward. Jethro responded by praising the LORD and offering sacrifices to the God of Israel.

Exodus 18:1-4 reintroduces Jethro, a Midianite priest and Moses’ father-in-law. It recalls the fact that Moses sent his wife and children back home to Jethro. It also provides added information about Moses’ two sons.

The last section, Exodus 16:31-36, describes how the LORD commanded Moses to keep a measure of the manna as an everlasting memorial to His constant provision for His people while they were in the wilderness. An omer of manna was to be placed in a jar and placed it in the LORD’s presence. The LORD faithfully provided the people with manna for forty years, until the time that they entered the Promised Land.

Exodus 16:22-30 outlines the provision of rest based upon the observance of the Sabbath. Though the law concerning the Sabbath was not given until chapter 19, some sense of it has existed since the creation. Here, the LORD prepared the people for the importance of the Sabbath rest by providing a double portion (i.e. two omers) of manna on the sixth day.

Exodus 16:1-21 describes the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness from Elim to Sinai and the conflict over a lack of food. As at Marah in the previous chapter, the people confronted Moses and Aaron concerning their basic need for food. In response, the LORD provided manna and gave explicit instructions on how to gather it, store it, and eat it. It was another incident that the LORD used to test His people about His ability to provide for all of their needs and increase their faith in Him.

Another important event happened while the Israelites were at Rephadim. The Amalekites attacked them (Exodus 17:8-16). Moses ordered Joshua to take an army to repel the attack, while he stood on a hill overlooking the battle with the staff of God. When he raised the staff into the air, the Israelites prevailed, and if he lowered the staff, the Amalekites got the better of the Israelites. When Moses’ arms got tired, his assistants propped up his arms until sunset, allowing Joshua to win the battle. The LORD then instructed Moses to write the account of the battle as a memorial to the fact that He would eliminate the Amalekites from the earth. Moses in turn built an altar to the LORD.

After the provision of food (manna and quail) had been established, the Israelites continued their trek toward Mt. Sinai, also called Horeb, moving to a place called Rephedim. Here, they found no water to drink. The people complained to Moses, who in turn cried out to the LORD for guidance. The LORD told him to go to a rock at Horeb and strike it with the same staff that he used to strike the Nile River in Egypt. The people got water, and the location received two names—Massah and Meribah.

Abraham prayed for the king and his household. God healed Abimelech’s wife and maids so that they could have children.

Abraham disclosed that Sarah was actually his sister, being the daughter of his father. Then King Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, oxen, and servants. He also restored Sarah to Abraham and told him to settle wherever he wanted in the kingdom.

Abimelech awoke and called for Abraham. He asked Abraham why he had misled them. Abraham replied he thought he would be killed because of his wife, because there was no fear of God in this place.

Abimelech pleaded with God in his dream that he believed Sarah was not married and he was innocent and without sin. God agreed and told the king to restore Sarah to Abraham.

Abraham moves to Gerar. He told King Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. Therefore, the king sent for and took Sarah. However, in a dream, God revealed to Abimelech that Sarah was married.