How does Exodus 18:7 reflect ancient Near Eastern customs of hospitality and respect? Text: Exodus 18:7 “So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent.” Immediate Literary Setting Exodus 18 recounts Jethro’s arrival at Israel’s camp near Sinai, bringing Moses’ wife and sons. Verse 7 captures the first moment of contact. Every verb in Hebrew is deliberately chosen—ויצא (“went out”), וישתחו (“bowed down”), וישק (“kissed”), וישאלו איש־לרעהו לשלום (“they asked each other of peace”), ויבאו האהלה (“they went into the tent”)—forming a compact protocol narrative. Approach Outside the Settlement Ancient Semitic etiquette required a host to leave the settlement perimeter to honor distinguished guests (cf. Genesis 18:2; 24:17). Excavations at Khirbet el-Maqatir and Tell el-Maskhuta show Middle Bronze fortifications with outer “approach plazas” where greeting ceremonies occurred (Hoffmeier, Ancient Israel in Sinai, 2005, pp. 134-137). Moses’ exit from the camp follows this pattern, signaling both respect and the public acknowledgment of Jethro’s status as priest and elder. Bowing (ḥwh) as Reverential Gesture The root ḥwh designates profound obeisance, often to royalty or to God (Genesis 33:3; 1 Samuel 24:8). Reliefs from the 15th-century BC Tomb of Rekhmire depict Syro-Canaanite envoys bowing in identical posture. Bowing before an in-law underscores Exodus 20:12’s principle of honoring parental figures and reflects patriarchal patri-lineal hierarchy. Kissing (nāšaq) as Familial Covenant Sign The kiss conveyed familial bond and covenant loyalty (Genesis 29:13; 2 Samuel 19:39). Ugaritic tablets (CAT 1.4 VI 48-52) record diplomats sealing alliances with a kiss. By kissing Jethro, Moses affirms kinship ties despite ethnic distinctions between Israel and Midian—a subtle apologetic for God’s wider redemptive plan. Mutual Inquiry of Peace—“Šālôm?” Asking “of peace” was more than polite talk; it probed well-being under divine favor. The Amarna letters (EA 33:5-8) open with identical formulae: “To my brother … may all be well with you, your house, your wives, your sons, your warriors.” Scripture consistently employs the query (Judges 18:15; 1 Samuel 17:22), confirming continuity. Entrance into the Tent: Sacred Guest Space The tent (’ohel) functioned as private audience chamber. Mari archives (ARM 26 71) note that crucial counsel was given after the formal greeting inside the “šapārum” (reception tent). Verse 7 foreshadows Jethro’s advisory role (vv. 13-23) and establishes the theological motif of wise outsiders blessing Israel (cf. Genesis 14:18-20). Hospitality as Covenant Maintenance Hospitality in the ancient Near East protected life, forged alliances, and invoked the gods as witnesses (Job 31:32). In Bedouin code—preserved in the Sīrat Banī Hilāl epic—a guest under one’s tent rope enjoyed three days of inviolable protection. Moses’ actions align with this ethos, thereby modeling covenant faithfulness expected of God’s covenant people. Respect for Elders and In-Laws Patriarchal society positioned the father-in-law as adviser (Genesis 31:55). Midianite priestly status added weight; archaeological finds at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud reveal Midianite-Yahwistic contact inscriptions (“Yahweh of Teman”), indicating shared religious discourse (Dever, Did God Have a Wife?, 2005, pp. 176-179). Moses’ deference acknowledges Jethro’s age, office, and spiritual insight. Biblical Parallels • Genesis 18:1-8—Abraham hurries, bows, prepares food. • Genesis 29:13—Laban meets, embraces, kisses Jacob. • 2 Kings 4:13—Elisha offers return hospitality. These parallels display a consistent biblical pattern unhindered by alleged source divisions, underscoring the textual unity affirmed by manuscript evidence (e.g., 4QExod from Qumran matches MT in the greeting formula). Extra-Biblical Parallels • Mari Letter A.196: host bows, kisses, escorts envoy into tent. • Hittite “Instructions to Priests” §23: senior priest greeted with prostration and kiss. • Neo-Assyrian reliefs (Palace of Sargon II) depicting vassal rulers bowing and kissing the emperor’s feet. Archaeological & Iconographic Corroboration Cylinder seals from Nuzi (1500 BC) picture double-hand embrace after bowing, paralleling Moses’ sequence. Tell el-Dab‘a mural fragments show Semites kissing the cheek of Egyptian officials, validating cross-cultural diffusion of the gesture. Theological and Ethical Implications 1. Humility precedes leadership. Moses, the mediator of Torah, models deference—anticipating Christ, “who humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8). 2. Hospitality is intrinsic to covenant life; the New Covenant reiterates it (Hebrews 13:2). 3. Respect for familial authority structures honors God’s created order (Ephesians 6:2-3). Messianic and Christological Echoes The Father-Son dynamic of divine economy resonates: the Son “comes down” (John 6:38) yet honors the Father, similar to Moses honoring a father-figure before mediating law. Early church fathers saw such theophoric sketches (cf. Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 4.16). New Testament Continuity Luke 15:20—The father runs, embraces, kisses the prodigal. Acts 20:37—Ephesian elders kiss Paul farewell. The apostolic church sustains the kiss as “holy” (Romans 16:16), rooting Christian praxis in the Exodus prototype. Practical Application for Modern Believers • Go out of your way—literally—to welcome. • Show tangible respect to elders and in-laws. • Create spaces (homes, churches) where counsel and discipleship occur after sincere greeting. • Recognize hospitality as evangelical witness; countless testimonies report seekers converted through a meal shared under godly welcome. Conclusion Exodus 18:7 encapsulates a five-fold Near Eastern hospitality liturgy—approach, prostration, kiss, inquiry of peace, shared space. Archaeology, comparative texts, and consistent biblical testimony corroborate its authenticity and illuminate its theology. Far from an incidental detail, the verse teaches perpetual principles of honor, humility, and covenant hospitality that glorify God and anticipate the gospel’s fullness. |
    |