When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”
Parallel translations
- WEB When they came to Reuel, their father, he said, “How is it that you have returned so early today?”
- KJV And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
- NKJV When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”
- NASB When they came to their father Reuel, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?”
- NLT When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The daughters return early to their father Reuel, who is surprised at their speed. His question opens the way for Moses to be welcomed.
Overview
Reuel, also called Jethro, is the priest of Midian and will become Moses' father-in-law and counselor. His curiosity at their early return leads to recognition of the stranger's kindness. God uses this household to give the exiled Moses a home, a family, and years of preparation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Exod 3:1Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
- Exod 4:18Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.
- Num 10:29Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”
- Exod 18:1–12Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
- Num 19:20But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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