Teks -- Exodus 18:7 (NET)

18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him; they each asked about the other’s welfare, and then they went into the tent.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

JFB: Exo 18:7 - 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 Exo 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.

Clarke: Exo 18:7 - And did obeisance

And did obeisance - וישתחו vaiyishtachu , he bowed himself down, (See Clarke’ s note on Gen 17:3, and See Clarke’ s note on Exo 4:31); this was the general token of respect. And kissed him; the token of friendship. And they asked each other of their welfare; literally, and they inquired, each man of his neighbor, concerning peace or prosperity; the proof of affectionate intercourse. These three things constitute good breeding and politeness, accompanied with sincerity

Clarke: Exo 18:7 - And they came into the tent

And they came into the tent - Some think that the tabernacle is meant, which it is likely had been erected before this time; see Clarke’ s note on Exo 18:5. Moses might have thought proper to take his relative first to the house of God, before he brought him to his own tent.

Calvin: Exo 18:7 - And Moses went out

7.And Moses went out In the foregoing verse he had related what happened last, viz., that Jethro said, I am come, and have brought to thee thy wife and children; but this transposition is common in Hebrew. Now, then, he adds, that Moses went to meet him, and to pay him honor; and that they met each other with mutual kindness, and respectively performed the duties of affection. “To ask each other of their peace,” ¹⁹⁶ is tantamount to inquiring whether things were well and prospering. But the main point is, that Moses told him how gracious God had been to His people; for this was the drift of the whole of his address, that, when he had left his father-in-law, he had not yielded to the impulse of lightness, but had obeyed the call of God, as had afterwards been proved by His extraordinary aids and by heavenly prodigies.

TSK: Exo 18:7 - went // did obeisance // kissed // welfare

went : Gen 14:17, Gen 46:29; Num 22:36; Jdg 11:34; 1Ki 2:19; Act 28:15

did obeisance : Gen 18:2, Gen 19:1, Gen 33:3-7

kissed : Gen 29:13, Gen 31:28, Gen 33:4, Gen 45:15; Psa 2:12; Luk 7:45; Act 20:37

welfare : Heb. peace, Gen 43:27; 2Sa 11:7

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Exo 18:7 - Of their welfare

Of their welfare Heb. of their peace , i.e. prosperity and all happiness, which also they wished one to the other, as this phrase implies. See 1Sa 10:4 Psa 122:6 .

Haydock: Exo 18:7 - Worshipped // Tent

Worshipped, bending to the ground, according to the custom of the country. (Haydock) ---

Tent of the Lord, if it were then erected, and afterwards into that of Moses. (Calmet)

Gill: Exo 18:7 - And Moses went out to meet his father in law // and did obeisance // and kissed him // and they asked each other of their welfare // and they came into the tent

And Moses went out to meet his father in law,.... Out of the camp, at least out of his tent: the Targum of Jonathan says, from under the cloud of glory; how far he went is not certain, nor material to know: this was an instance of his great humility and modesty, and was doing Jethro a great deal of honour; that one who was in such great dignity, at the head of such a vast body of people, and superior to him both in natural and spiritual abilities, yet condescended to go forth in person to meet him, when he might have sent a guard of his men to escort him to his camp, which would have been honour sufficient; and it is not said he went out to meet his wife and children; for Aben Ezra says it was not usual for honourable men so to do:

and did obeisance: to Jethro, bowed unto him and worshipped him in a civil way, after the manner of the eastern nations, who used to make very low bows to whom they paid civil respect:

and kissed him; not to make him a proselyte, as the above Targum, nor in token of subjection, but of affection and friendship; it being usual for relations and friends to kiss each other at meeting or parting:

and they asked each other of their welfare; or "peace" ⁿ; of their prosperity and happiness, temporal and spiritual, of their peace, inward and outward, and of the bodily health of them and their families:

and they came into the tent; the Targum of Jonathan says,"into the tabernacle of the house of doctrine,''or school room; which is not likely, since Jethro was a man well instructed in divine things, and needed not to be put to school; and if he did, it can hardly be thought that as soon as Moses met him he should set about the instruction of him; but into his tent where he dwelt; that, as Aben Ezra says, which was the known tent of Moses, though it is not expressly said his tent.