Teks -- Exodus 18:15 (NET)

18:15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.

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Wesley: Exo 18:15 - The people came to enquire of God

And happy was it for them that they had such an oracle to consult. Moses was faithful both to him that appointed him, and to them that consulted him,

Wesley: Exo 18:15 - and made them know the statutes of God, and his laws

His business was not to make laws, but to make known God's laws: his place was but that of a servant.

Clarke: Exo 18:15 - The people come unto me to inquire of God

The people come unto me to inquire of God - To know the mind and will of God on the subject of their inquiries. Moses was the mediator between God and the people; and as they believed that all justice and judgment must come from him, therefore they came to Moses to know what God had spoken.

Calvin: Exo 18:15 - And Moses said unto his father-in-law

15.And Moses said unto his father-in-law Moses replies ingenuously, as if on a very praiseworthy matter, like one unconscious of any fault; for he declared himself to be the minister of God, and the organ of His Spirit. Nor, indeed, could his faithfulness and integrity be called in question. He only erred in overwhelming himself with too much labor, and not considering himself privately, nor all the rest publicly. Yet a useful lesson may be gathered from his words. He says that disputants come “to inquire of God,” and that he makes them to know the statutes of God and His laws. Hence it follows that this is the object of political government, that God’s tribunal should be erected on earth, wherein He may exercise the judge’s office, to the end that judges and magistrates should not arrogate to themselves a power uncontrolled by any laws, nor allow themselves to decide anything arbitrarily or wantonly, nor, in a word, assume to themselves what belongs to God. Then, and then only, will magistrates acquit themselves properly:. when they remember that they are the representatives ( vicarios) of God. An obligation is here also imposed upon all private individuals, that they should not rashly appeal to the authority or assistance of judges, but should approach them with pure hearts, as if inquiring of God; for whosoever desires anything else except to learn from the mouth of the magistrate what is right and just, boldly and sacrilegiously violates the place which is dedicated to God.

TSK: Exo 18:15 - to inquire

to inquire : Exo 18:19, Exo 18:20; Lev 24:12-14; Num 15:34, Num 27:5

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

Poole: Exo 18:15

i.e. Of the mind and will of God, both as to his worship and service and as to their mutual duties to one another. 1Sa 9:9 .

Gill: Exo 18:15 - And Moses said unto his father in law // because the people come unto me to inquire of God

And Moses said unto his father in law,.... In answer to his question; and there were two things, as Aben Ezra observes, he did to the people, and for which they came to him; the one is observed in this verse, and the other in the next:

because the people come unto me to inquire of God; of his mind and will in certain cases, and of his statutes and laws, as the following verse shows; what they should observe, and according to which they should conduct themselves: they came to inquire what God would have them to do; and, in doubtful cases, what was his will and pleasure, and to desire Moses to inform them; and if the things were of such a nature that he could not easily and readily do it, then to inquire of God for them, which in later times was done by Urim and Thummim.