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And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua, that he may form no league with the Amalekites: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven: though they are a numerous and flourishing people, by degrees they shall be so weakened, as to become of no note, and be 15 forgotten, like dead men. (See Deut. xxv. 17-19.) And Moses built an altar, whereon to offer sacrifices of thanksgiv ing, and to stand as a memorial of this first victory against the Amalekites, and called the name of it JEHOVAH-nissi, that is, 16 the Lord, my banner: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that,] or, as the margin more plainly renders it, Because the hand of Amalek is against the throne of the Lord, therefore the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation. Accordingly he was defeated by Saul, ruined by David, and never heard of afterward.

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REFLECTIONS.

E have reason to be astonished at the untractable and incorrigible temper of Israel, and adore the patience of God, in bearing with their murmurings. They were strangely forgetful of his appearances for them, and fidelity to them. All the neighbouring nations knew it, but Israel would not see it. Moses argued with them, but all in vain. They showed themselves to be an obstinate and selfwilled people. If not humoured, they would affront God, and stone Moses. How wonderful was the divine patience that he did not make a full end! but overcame evil with good. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. Thus he still bears with untractable, rebellious men. May the goodness of God lead us to repentance, and make us careful not to tempt him, or chide with his messengers.

2. Let us adore God's hand that could bring water out of a rock. This is often taken notice of in scripture, as a marvellous event. To have brought it out of the earth, would have been remarkable; but out of a rock, was much more so. We should learn hence, to trust God in every exigency; he can open rivers in the wilderness; he can turn flints into fountains of water. Blessed are the souls that seek him, that trust in his providence, and rely on his promises.

3. What a dreadful thing is it to rise up against God; to lift up the hand against his throne, as Amalek did! This we do, whenever we oppose his judgments, or trample his laws under foot; especially when we abuse his mercy, and receive his grace in vain. The persecutors of God's people lift up their hand against his throne, and certain and great will their destruction at length be. Those who think to carry matters with a high hand against God and his people, will sink into contempt and ruin.

4. See the prevalence of prayer, when attacking an enemy. This is true in a spiritual as well as a temporal sense. Christians should therefore be instant in prayer, and to that should add vigorous endeavours. Moses ordered Joshua to choose proper men, to use the most likely means of success, though his dependence was upon God. Thus let us take the whole armour of God; go out to fight manfully; and, joining our prayers and endeavours, we may hope for success; out of weakness we shall be made strong. The interest of religion in the church of Christ, and in our own souls especially, is most likely to be successful when our prayers are most fervent.

5. We must be careful to remember the signal appearances of Providence for us. We should keep a memorial of them for our own use; and inform posterity what God hath done for his church and people, in conquering their proud and unreasonable enemies, and in restoring and establishing their peace. Let us raise our domestic altars to Jehovah our banner, and say, as Samuel, hitherto the Lord hath helped us.

CHAP. XVIII.

Jethro brings Moses' wife and two sons to him; Moses entertains him, and accepts his counsel.

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HEN Jethro, the priest of Midian, who was probably a pious man, and a worshipper of the true God, the great grandson of Abraham, by Keturah and 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 2 Egypt; Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, (see ch. iv. 26.) 3 And her two sons, of which the name of the one [was] Gershom, that is, a stranger there, for he said, I have been an 4 alien, in a strange land: And the name of the other [was] Eliezer, that is, my Golis an help; for the God of my father, [said he, was] mine help, and delivered me from the sword of 5 Pharaoh: And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he 6 encamped at the mount of God, near mount Sinai: And he, that is, Jethro, sent a message, and said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, to congratulate thee on Israel's deliverance, and thy wife and her two sons with her.

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And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, after the manner of that country, and kissed him; and they asked each other of [their] welfare; and they came 8 into the tent. And Moses told his father in law all that the

LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, [and] all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and [how] the LORD delivered them. Jethro had heard something of this before, v. 1. but Moses gave him a more • particular account.* And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered 10 out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro expressed his joy in a very pious manner, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD, who hath delivered you Moses and Aaron, who were in such imminent danger, out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who hath delivered the people 11 from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know more clearly than ever that the LORD [is] greater than all the heathen gods for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, carried themselves with such scorn and insolence, as if they thought it impossible that God should deliver them out of their hands, 12 [he was] above them. And Jethro, Moses' father in law, expressed his gratitude as the ancient patriarchs used to do, and took a burnt offering and sacrifices, peace offerings for thanksgiving, for to offer to God and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread, to feast on the sacrifices, with Moses' father in law before God, before the cloud, and the altar on which the sacrifices were offered.

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13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people, to hear and determine causes: and the people 14 stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What [is] this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by 15 thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God, to inquire what the will of God is in any doubtful case: and 16 also When they have a matter between themselves, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do 17 make [them] know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses' father in law remonstrated against this, and said unto him, The thing that thou doest [is] not good, is not conven18 ient, neither for thyself, nor the people. Thou wilt surely wear away, destroy thy health, both thou, and this people that [is] with thee, they will be weary of waiting till their turn comes : for this thing [is] too heavy for thee; thou art not able to 19 perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel,† and God shall be with thee, to assist and bless thee, and show that my counsel is good, by the success that

This shows that the fame of those miracles was spread through the neighbouring nations: and how inexcusable they were in opposing Israel, and affronting Jehovah.

+ Some think this was after the delivery of the law, because in Deut. i. it is mentioned after that important event. But the advice might be given now, though not put in practice till after the giving of the law.

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attends it: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God, that is, extraordinary or difficult cases, and tell the people the divine determination; re20 serve this privilege and honour to thyself: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do, how to behave to God and to one another.

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Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, who can bear fatigue, men of good sense and sagacity, of activity and good spirit, of courage and resolution, and such as fear God, who act upon religious principles, and stand in awe of God, the universal governor; men of truth, upright, honest men, who will judge without partiality; hating covetousness, who will not take a bribe to pervert justice, but will act a generous, disinterested part; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens; thus forming greater and lesser courts of 22 justice: And let them judge the people at all seasons, some or other of them sit continually and it shall be, [that] every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they 23 shall bear [the burden] with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee [so,] if he shall approve of this course which I suggest, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace; they shall have their controversies ended, and their minds quieted.

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and 25 did all that he had said. And Moses, upon the people's recommendation, chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, 26 rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

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And Moses let his father in law depart, dismissed him honourably (see Num. x. 29.) and he went his way into his own land, much affected with what he had seen, and informed his neighbours of God's wonderful works.*

It is thought the Kenites came from this country, to whom God showed kindness, for their kindness to Israel; and the Rhecabites also came from hence, whose virtue Jeremials celebrates.

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REFLECTIONS.

ET us learn to take part in the joys and sorrows of God's people. Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord hath done to Israel, and blessed God on their account. All who love God, should rejoice to see his interest flourishing, his arm made bare for the prosperity of his servants. They should talk of and celebrate his wondrous works; and give him the glory due to his name. Unthankful Israel overlooked them, while Jethro rejoiced in them. This makes his conduct more remarkable, and worthy to be imitated by us.

2. Let us observe God's providential dealings with others, to increase our acquaintance with him; so Jethro did. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods; for, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. Let us observe what he is doing for his church, and for particular souls, that we may understand more of his nature, and the design of his proceedings, and learn those lessons he would have us to learn. Let us especially observe his providence in abasing those who deal in pride, that we may learn humility, and fear the Lord continually. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, the dispensations of Providence, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Psulm cvii. 43.

3. Let us be careful that the presence of our friends does not break in on the proper duties of life. Moses' father in law was a great and good man; brought him his wife and children, whom he had not seen for a long time and for this reason Moses might have made some excuse for putting off attendance on public business; but he would not neglect it. After a day spent in feasting and rejoicing, he returned to his work. This gives us a good hint how to behave. Pleasure, or converse with friends, should not be our whole, nor even our main business; we should fill up our stations with proper services; live to important and useful purposes; and neither neglect our shops, our fields, nor our studies, for the company of our friends. Above all, let us not neglect devotion; but keep as near as may be to the stated times for it. A good man used to say to his friends, when time for secret worship was come, 'Excuse me for a while, I have a friend above, that is waiting for me.' Business, much less devotion, should never give way to the conversation of friends, especially not to visits of form and ceremony. It is,' as one observes, too great a compliment to our friends, to neglect our duty.'

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4. We should guard against extremes, even in a good work. Jethro's advice was good; and in consequence of it Moses lived forty years longer, and died at the age of one hundred and twenty in the vigour of nature. We should consider what our strength will bear; too great application in younger days may perhaps shorten a man's life; and make him less serviceable to the

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