1
Ex 18:1-27.
英文原文
Ex 18:1-27.
VISIT OF JETHRO.
1-5. Jethro . . . came . . . unto Moses, &c.--It is thought by many eminent commentators that this episode is inserted out of its chronological order, for it is described as occurring when the Israelites were "encamped at the mount of God." And yet they did not reach it till the third month after their departure from Egypt
(Ex 19:1, 2;
compare
De 1:6, 9-15).
6
无标题
6. 和你的妻子,和她的两个儿子——见
出 4:20。
英文原文
6. and thy wife, and her two sons--See
Ex 4:20.
7
无标题
7. 摩西出去迎接他的岳父,等等——他们的问安,带着东方朋友间一切热切而富人情味的致意(参见
出 4:27)——一方出去「迎接」另一方,行礼,在头侧两边「亲嘴」,默然进入帐棚商议;他们的谈话正如所料,属于两位敬虔之人的语气,复述并聆听神奇妙的作为与护理的经过。
英文原文
7. Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, &c.--Their salutations would be marked by all the warm and social greetings of Oriental friends (see on
Ex 4:27)
--the one going out to "meet" the other, the "obeisance," the "kiss" on each side of the head, the silent entrance into the tent for consultation; and their conversation ran in the strain that might have been expected of two pious men, rehearsing and listening to a narrative of the wonderful works and providence of God.
12
无标题
12. 叶忒罗……献上燔祭——这次友好的会面以一项庄严的宗教仪式结束——燔祭在坛上焚烧,祭物则是平安祭,用于喜乐与感恩的筵席;在这筵席上,叶忒罗作为真神的祭司似乎主持其中,以色列的领袖们都受邀赴席。这件事与当事人的性情十分相称,也颇值得今日基督徒朋友相聚之时效法。
英文原文
12. Jethro . . . took a burnt offering--This friendly interview was terminated by a solemn religious service--the burnt offerings were consumed on the altar, and the sacrifices were peace offerings, used in a feast of joy and gratitude at which Jethro, as priest of the true God, seems to have presided, and to which the chiefs of Israel were invited. This incident is in beautiful keeping with the character of the parties, and is well worthy of the imitation of Christian friends when they meet in the present day.
13
无标题
13-26. 第二天……摩西坐着审判百姓,等等——此处呈现的是他每日早晨职务的一斑;在他神圣使命所加诸的繁杂职责中,这只是他公务的一小部分。他在这姿态中作为基督立法与司法性情的预表。
百姓从早到晚都站在摩西的左右,等等——东方的官长坐在宫殿或城中最为公开的城门口,在那里,在申请者的拥挤之中,听断案件,接受请愿,伸冤理屈,调解争讼双方的诉求。
英文原文
13-26. on the morrow . . . Moses sat to judge the people, &c.--We are here presented with a specimen of his daily morning occupations; and among the multifarious duties his divine legation imposed, it must be considered only a small portion of his official employments. He appears in this attitude as a type of Christ in His legislative and judicial characters.
the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening, &c.--Governors in the East seat themselves at the most public gate of their palace or the city, and there, amid a crowd of applicants, hear causes, receive petitions, redress grievances, and adjust the claims of contending parties.
17
无标题
17. 摩西的岳父对他说:「你这事……不好」——这事对摩西本人、对维护公正、对百姓的满足与利益,都不好。叶忒罗就分工一事给出了明智的建议
[出 18:21, 22],
而教会与国家历世历代的普遍经验,都已证明这原则的稳健及其优越之处。
英文原文
17. Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing . . . is not good--not good either for Moses himself, for the maintenance of justice, or for the satisfaction and interests of the people. Jethro gave a prudent counsel as to the division of labor
[Ex 18:21, 22],
and universal experience in the Church and State has attested the soundness and advantages of the principle.
23
无标题
23. 你若这样行——叶忒罗的建议不过是提出来供参考;除非得到那位更美、更高的谋士明确的许可和批准,否则不可采纳;虽然圣经没有明说,但无疑地,摩西在任命下属官长之前,必先求问神的心意,正如每一位基督徒在凡事上祈求神引导,既是本分,也是特权。
英文原文
23. If thou shalt do this thing, &c.--Jethro's counsel was given merely in the form of a suggestion; it was not to be adopted without the express sanction and approval of a better and higher Counsellor; and although we are not informed of it, there can be no doubt that Moses, before appointing subordinate magistrates, would ask the mind of God, as it is the duty and privilege of every Christian in like manner to supplicate the divine direction in all his ways.
出埃及记 18:1-27.
叶忒罗 来访
1-5. 叶忒罗……来……到摩西那里,等等——许多著名的注释家认为,这段记载是按年代顺序之外的插入,因为其中描述这事发生在以色列人「在神的山安营」之时。然而他们直到离开埃及之后的第三个月才到达那里
(出 19:1, 2;
比较
申 1:6, 9-15)。