Jethro

Seven sisters, a well and a rescue lead Moses to the house of a priest of Midian. The verses give this man more than one name. Exodus 2 calls him Reuel, and Exodus 3:1 says “Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law.” Later Moses speaks to Hobab, “the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law.” The text does not explain the different names. What it does show is a household that took in a stranger and gave him work and a wife, Zipporah. When Moses is ready to go back to Egypt, he returns to Jethro first and asks to leave. Exodus 4:18 records that request.

11 verses

Exodus

Exodus 2:15

Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:16

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

Exodus 2:17

And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Exodus 2:18

And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

Exodus 2:19

And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

Exodus 2:20

And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

Exodus 2:21

And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Exodus 2:22

And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

Exodus 3:1

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Exodus 4:18

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

Numbers

Numbers 10:29

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

His excellence, or gain, a prince or priest of Midian, who succeeded his father Reuel. Moses spent forty years after his exile from the Egyptian court as keeper of Jethro’s flocks. While the Israelites were encamped at Sinai, and soon after their victory over Amalek, Jethro came to meet Moses, bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons. They met at the “mount of God,” and “Moses told him all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh” (Ex. 18:8). On the following day Jethro, observing the multiplicity of the duties devolving on Moses, advised him to appoint subordinate judges, rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, to decide smaller matters, leaving only the weightier matters to be referred to Moses, to be laid before the Lord. This advice Moses adopted (Ex. 18). He was also called Hobab (q.v.), which was probably his personal name, while Jethro was an official name. (See MOSES.)

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From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(his excellence) was priest or prince of Midian. Moses married his daughter Zipporah. (B.C. 1530.) On account if his local knowledge he was entreated to remain with the Israelites throughout their journey to Canaan. (Numbers 10:31,33) (He is called RAGUEL, OR REUEL, REUEL in (Exodus 2:18) And RAGUEL, OR REUEL in (Numbers 10:29), The same word int he original for both). Reuel is probably his proper name, and Jethro his official title.--ED.)