Good post, thanks.
There are theories that Moses got scrolls from his father-in-law that were used as source material for the books of Moses.
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@Wick Stick
Jethro was a medianite.
I followed those crumbs too. And I'm not so sure the advice Jethro gave to Moses was lined up with what God wanted Moses to do.
Jethro had instructed Moses to set up judges because the cause of so many were becoming overwhelming for Moses.
Moses wasn't complaining, it was Jethro who was a priest of Midian that put the idea in his head.
Exo 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.
Moses took his wife and child and left Jethro to go into the wilderness.
This reminds me of when Jacob took Leah and Rachel to go to Canaan.
And Laban wasn't happy about that. He accused Jacob of stealing his daughters, his flock and his gods.
In the Book of Jasher, this goes into much greater detail and very interesting.
According to Jasher, Laban sent his men to Esau to tell them that Jacob was heading in his direction and that he had stolen all these from him.
Well Esau, having been "decieved" by Jacob twice became irratable and went out to meet him.
This is when Jacob sent his camp in droves. Leah with one camp, Rachel with another, with some seperation between them,
(So I just saw another one.. the seperation of time between the older and the younger.. anywho..)
There are 4 battalions of angels that confront Esau along the way and they tell him, that if he were not the brother of Jacob they would of slain him. So by the time Jacob came into his territory, Esau already had the fear of Jacob in him.
So they meet, Jabob gives him gifts, promises to come stay in his land, and ends up going in the direction of Canaan.
The story isn't different, there's just more detail.
Getting back to Moses, because I haven't gotten to the part of this story in the book of Jasher yet, I believe there is some thing odd between Jethro and Moses. This is the story:
Exo 18:13
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
Exo 18:14
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 thee from morning unto even?
Exo 18:15
And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
Exo 18:16
When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make
them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
Jethro Counsels Moses
Exo 18:17
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest
is not good.
Exo 18:18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that
is with thee: for this thing
is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
Exo 18:19
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
Exo 18:20
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Exo 18:21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place
such over them,
to be rulers of thousands,
and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Exo 18:22
And let them judge the people at all seasons: 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 shall bear
the burden with thee.
Exo 18:23
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee
so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
Exo 18:24
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
It is Jethro the priest of Midian that gives Moses council concerning ordinances and laws, and to set up judges.
There is a story in the prophets concerning ordinances and laws:
Isa 1:10
Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
Isa 1:11
To what purpose
is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Isa 1:12
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Isa 1:13
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with;
it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isa 1:14
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear
them.
Isa 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isa 1:17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Who are the midianites? And why did Moses take council from Jethro and not God?
Gen 37:28
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty
pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Gen 37:36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's,
and captain of the guard.
Well the midianites were merchantment, they sold Joseph into slavery.
Now Moses was sent to free those very slaves that the Midianites sold them into.
This sounds like another prophecy:
Num 31:2
Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
We are no longer under the law of Moses but under grace.
Jdg 6:2
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel:
and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which
are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
Is this the reason that Jesus removed the ordinaces from the law?
Because they were not by God but by man?
Eph 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man,
so making peace;
Col 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Jethro told Moses to set up judges, yet Jesus tells us not to judge.
Luk 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Jhn 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.
Moses was doing what God had put him in charge of, until Jethro came and brought with him ordinances and judges.
Being mindful that Jethro was a Priest of Midian and Aaron, Moses brother was given the Priesthood of Israel. Could there have been some jealousy there?
So anyways I could go on and on...
Just thinking..
Hugs