Exodus 18:12

Took a burnt offering. Sacrifices were instituted by God Himself as soon as sin entered the world (see on Gen. 3:21; 4:3, 4). The practice of offering sacrifices was perpetuated by all who knew and honored God (see Gen. 4:4; 8:20; 12:7, 8; 22:13; etc.). Like Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18), Jethro was recognized as a priest of the true God (Ex. 2:16; PP 301), and therefore had the right to offer sacrifices. It would seem, however, that the Midianites, generally, were idolaters (Num. 25:17, 18; 31:16). Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel would not have partaken of a sacrificial meal had it been tainted by heathen practices or performed by a man who was not a worshiper of the God of heaven. To eat bread. Of the burnt offering itself nothing was eaten. It was completely consumed, since in its entirety it was considered as belonging to God (Lev. 1:3-17). The other sacrifices here mentioned were such that, after the blood had been poured out before God and certain portions of the flesh burnt on the altar, the “elders” might eat what remained (see 1 Sam. 2:15, 16).