And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

EXODUS 18:5KJV
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Exodus 18:5 (KJV)

What does Exodus 18:5 mean?

Exodus 18:5 describes a family reunion during Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Jethro brings Moses’ wife and two sons to the place where Moses is staying, so that they can be together again.

After naming the sons in the preceding verses, the narrator turns to their arrival. The “mount of God” locates the meeting at the mountain associated with God’s earlier appearance to Moses. The word “encamped” pictures Moses staying there in a camp rather than passing through.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 18:5

  • “wilderness” — מִדְבָּר (midbar): This means a wild or unsettled region. The word need not mean a landscape of sand dunes; it can describe land used for grazing.
  • “encamped” — חָנָה (ḥanah): This means to make or set up camp. The word presents Moses’ location as a stopping place on a journey.

Why Exodus 18:5 matters

  • The family members coming with Jethro are Moses’ wife and sons. The verses just before this one identify his wife as Zipporah and name the two sons Gershom and Eliezer.
  • The meeting place recalls Moses’ earlier encounter with God. Exodus 3:1 also calls Horeb “the mountain of God,” where Moses saw the burning bush.
  • Jethro’s arrival sets up a conversation about what has happened since Moses left Egypt. In verse 8, Moses tells Jethro about the hardships on the journey and how the Lord delivered Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Jethro” Hebrew H3503 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
  • Exodus 18:1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
  • Exodus 18:9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

“law” Hebrew H2859 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 34:9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.
  • Exodus 18:15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
  • Judges 19:4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

“encamped” Hebrew H2583 · used in 135 verses

  • Genesis 26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
  • Numbers 33:11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
  • Judges 6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.