DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus

\Home\

Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum

2013 December 18



The Jews in the Desert (detail) (1592-1594)
Tintoretto (1518-1594)
Renaissance Style With Mannerist and Venetian School Elements
San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy
Image Source: Wikipedia


     Explanation: I've chosen the painting above to represent Jethro and Moses in conference. The figures in the foreground, however, are commonly referred to as Moses and Aaron. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the figures can be better understood as Jethro and Moses, whatever the artist's intention may have been. My reasons for this interpretation are twofold. First, I can find no account of a conference between Moses and Aaron, such as the one depicted (although they probably conferred at various times in various ways). But here in Exodus 18 we have an account of what appears to be an animated and extended dialogue or conference between Jethro and Moses. Second, the figure conferring with Moses is gesturing toward the people, and the artist has Moses gesturing in the same direction. This artistic device comports well with the fact that Jethro, in his conference with Moses, focused on Moses' relationship to the people -- directing Moses' attention to the strain he was under by dealing with all of the problems of all of the people all of the time by himself -- a problem for which he offered a good solution.
     Exodus 18 describes the interaction of Jethro and Moses. Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law heard about the LORD's deliverance of Israel, so he came to visit Moses and brought Moses' wife Zipporah and his two sons Gershom and Eliezer who had been living with him while Moses was in Egypt confronting Pharaoh. Moses told him about the bondage of Israel, the hardships along the way, and the deliverance which the Lord gave to them. Jethro rejoiced with them, professed his faith in the greatness of God, and offered sacrifices to the LORD; after which, Moses, the elders, and Jethro had a meal together in the presence of the LORD (1-12). The next day, as Moses was judging the various complaints which the people were bringing to him, Jethro saw that this was very taxing on Moses, and he proposed (if God so directed) that the burden be shared among able men who could judge most of the cases, leaving the hardest ones for Moses (13-23). Moses accepted the suggestion (presumably with God's approval) and appointed chiefs over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Afterward, Jethro returned home (24-27).


Exodus 18

     1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land"), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"). 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her," 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people." 12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.
     13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?" 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws." 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace."
     24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.




Home | DAWN Forum Archive | Site Index

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     PARTICIPATION: We have 7 areas available (via email) for your participation. We are accepting contributions for Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image daily and invites discussion of the artist, style, or Biblical subjects depicted. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible for which we are accepting visual, auditory, musical, and written contributions on any Biblical passage or theme. Our goal is to have a community-made, online, Illuminated Bible.

Please Email Comments, Questions, and Contributions for All Areas To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2013, Scott Souza