Exodus 18:12

And Jethro, Moses's father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God,.... The burnt offering, which was either of the flock or of the herd, was wholly consumed by fire, from whence it had

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.

Took a burnt-offering, i.e. gave, or offered; as that verb is used , compared with ; also . Which he did, that he might publicly testify both his embracing of the true religion, and his thankfulness to God for the great deliverance given to his people, wherein also himself and family were concerned. And he took or offered these, not immediately, or by himself, (which would have seemed a presumptuous and unwarrantable action for a stranger to undertake in the church of Israel,) but by those who were appointed to do it; in which sense David is said to have sacrificed, , and Solomon, , and all those who brought their offerings to the priests to offer for them. A burnt offering and sacrifices, to wit, of thanksgiving, as is expressed ; for part of these the offerers, with others, did eat, , whereas no man might eat of the burnt-offerings, . To eat bread, i.e. to feast together of the remainders of the sacrifices. Before God; either before the cloudy pillar; or rather, before the altar, and in the place of public worship; for some such place undoubtedly they had, though the tabernacle was not yet built; and that was the place appointed for such feasts. See 27:7 .

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.Ver. 12. Before God,] i.e., As in his presence, with reverence and godly fear. "To feed without fear" is a foul fault. See my "Commonplace of Abstinence."

(12) Jethro . . . took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God.—Jethro had brought sacrifices with him, and now offered them in token of his thankfulness for God’s mercies towards himself and towards his kinsman. He occupied a position similar to that of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18), holding a priesthood of the most primitive character, probably as patriarch of his tribe, its head by right of primogeniture. As Abraham acknowledged rightly the priesthood of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:19; Hebrews 7:2-9), so Moses and Aaron rightly acknowledged that of Jethro. They markedly indicated their acceptance of his priestly character by participation in the sacrificial meal, which, as a matter of course, followed his sacrifice. They “ate bread with Moses’ father in law” (or rather, brother-in-law) “before God.”

Verse 12. Jethro - took a burnt-offering] עלה olah. Though it be true that in the patriarchal times we read of a burnt-offering, (see Genesis 22:2, c.,) yet we only read of one in the case of Isaac, and therefore, though this offering made by Jethro is not a decisive proof that the law relative to burnt-offerings, c., had already been given, yet, taken with other circumstances in this account, it is a presumptive evidence that the meeting between Moses and Jethro took place after the erection of tabernacle. See Clarke on Exodus 18:5. Sacrifices for God] זבחים zebachim, slain beasts, as the word generally signifies. We have already seen that sacrifices were instituted by God himself as soon as sin entered into our world and we see that they were continued and regularly practised among all the people who had the knowledge of the only true God, from that time until they became a legal establishment. Jethro, who was a priest, (Exodus 2:16), had a right to offer these sacrifices nor can there be a doubt of his being a worshipper of the true God, for those Kenites, from whom the Rechabites came, were descended from him; 1 Chronicles 2:55. See also Jeremiah 35:1-19. And Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel to eat bread] The burnt-offering was wholly consumed; every part was considered as the Lord's portion, and therefore it was entirely burnt up. The other sacrifices mentioned here were such that, after the blood had been poured out before God, the officers and assistants might feed on the flesh. Thus, in ancient times, contracts were made and covenants sealed; See Clarke on Genesis 15:13, c. It is very likely, therefore, that the sacrifices offered on this occasion, were those on the flesh of which Aaron and the elders of Israel feasted with Jethro. Before God.] Before the tabernacle, where God dwelt for it is supposed that the tabernacle was now erected. See Clarke on Exodus 18:5; and see Deuteronomy 12:5-7, and 1Ch1 29:21-22, where the same form of speech, before the Lord, is used, and plainly refers to his manifested presence in the tabernacle.

12. a burnt offering and sacrifices] see on Exodus 20:24. to eat bread] i.e. to take part in the sacred meal accompanying the sacrifice: the ‘sacrifice’ here meant being of the nature of the later ‘peace-offering,’ an essential part of which was the accompanying sacred meal, in which the worshipper and his friends partook, and by which they entered symbolically into communion with the Deity (Leviticus 7:15; Deuteronomy 12:7; Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 27:7). For other cases in which ‘eating’ (sometimes accompanied by ‘drinking’) is to be understood similarly of the sacred meal, see Genesis 31:54; Exodus 24:11; Exodus 32:6; Exodus 34:15 (in the worship of heathen gods: so Numbers 25:2, Psalms 106:28); 1 Samuel 9:13; Psalms 22:26; Psalms 22:29. before God] i.e. before the altar, presupposed by the sacrifices.

A burnt offering and sacrifices - This verse clearly shows that Jethro was recognized as a priest of the true God, and is of great importance in its bearings upon the relation between the Israelites

12. Burnt offering and sacrifices for God — Jethro, the venerable priest, according to ancient usages of patriarchal worship, presides and officiates at this sacrifice and festival.