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Yitro was the father of Moses's wife Tzipporah and a Midianite priest. He served as Moses's advisor in the desert.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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Yitro’s Spiritual Journey
COMMENTARY
The Torah uses many names and epithets to refer to Yitro. Ramban, in his 13th-century commentary on the book of Exodus, explains that the various names used for Yitro correspond to different periods of his life and changed as his identity evolved.
Father-in-Law Turns Son-in-Law
MIDRASH
The relationship between the biblical Moses and his father-in-law, Yitro, undergoes a significant shift after the exodus. The Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, a third-century midrashic text, points out this role reversal.
Yitro’s Conversion
KABBALAH
According to many traditional interpretations, Yitro converts to Judaism in the book of Exodus. The Zohar, the foundational work of Jewish mysticism, explores Yitro’s conversion, its impact on divine service, on future converts, and its mystical implications for God’s presence in the world.
Learning Leadership from Yitro
TANAKH
Yitro offers wisdom and practical advice to his son-in-law Moses. In the book of Exodus, Yitro advises Moses on how to manage the disputes among the Israelites and delegate responsibilities, highlighting his concern for Moses’s well-being.
The Many Names of Yitro
COMMENTARY
The multiple names of Yitro in the Torah each represent a different aspect of his character. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century commentary on the Torah, explains each name—including several that do not explicitly refer to Yitro—and its significance.
What Did Yitro Hear?
TALMUD
According to the book of Exodus, Yitro goes to Moses and the Israelites after they left Egypt, after he heard what God has done for the Israelite people. The Jerusalem Talmud in tractate Megillah debates what it was that Yitro heard that compelled him to join the Israelites.
Making Moses’s Match
CHASIDUT
Yitro’s daughter Tzipporah marries Moses before Moses becomes the leader of the Israelites or brings them out of Egypt. Chaim Tyrer of Tchernovitz, in his Chasidic commentary, Be'er Mayim Chaim, suggests that Yitro had a premonition about Moses's greatness and for that reason chose him to marry his daughter.
Pharaoh’s Consultant, Defender of the Israelites
TALMUD
According to rabbinic tradition, Pharaoh consulted Yitro about the fate of the Jewish people during their time in Egypt. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Sotah argues that Yitro refused to be complicit in Pharaoh’s plans, thereby earning a great reward for his descendants.
Yitro’s Controversial Time of Arrival
COMMENTARY
Biblical interpreters debate the timing and significance of Yitro's arrival at the Israelite camp in the wilderness. Ibn Ezra, in his 12th-century commentary on the Torah, suggests that the Torah deliberately narrates his arrival out of order in order to make a theological point.
Jethro and Moses, James Tissot, 1896-1902 {PD-US}
Jethro and Moses, James Tissot, 1896-1902 {PD-US}
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