“So where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
- KJV And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
- NKJV So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
- NASB So he said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”
- NLT “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.”
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
Reuel rebukes his daughters for leaving their helper outside and invites Moses to a meal. Hospitality opens the door to Moses' new life.
Overview
Reuel's insistence on welcoming the stranger reflects the ancient virtue of hospitality and God's provision for His servant. The shared meal leads to Moses settling among them. Through this kindness, God grants the fugitive refuge and a future.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gen 31:54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
- Gen 43:25Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.
- Gen 19:2–3and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
- Job 42:11All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
- 1 Tim 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
- Job 31:32but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
- Heb 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Gen 18:5And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”
- Gen 24:31–33“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
- Gen 29:13When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 2:20 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.