Plot Development by Verse – Shemot 18
- 18:1 – What was the purpose of Yitro's visit?
- 18:1,8 – What is the relationship between the account Yitro heard while still in Midyan and what he heard from Moshe?
- 18:2 – "אַחַר שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ" – Who Sent What to Whom?
- 18:2 – When did Zipporah return to Midyan?
- 18:3 – Why does the Torah need to repeat the reason for Gershom's name?
- 18:5 – Who accompanied Yitro?
- 18:10 – What is the meaning of the repetition of the phrase "אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל..." in verse 10?
- 18:11 – "כִּי בַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר זָדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם" – What led to Yitro's realization?
- 18:12 – Why does Yitro offer sacrifices? What does "eating bread before God" mean?
- 18:12 – Why is Moshe not mentioned in verse 12?
- 18:13-26 – Did Moshe need Yitro's advice? Why didn't Moshe think of Yitro's suggestion on his own?
- 18:13 – Why were there so many litigants?
- 18:15-23 – Judging the people was only one of Moshe's many roles. Did Yitro's proposal address only Moshe's judicial burden or also his other responsibilities?
- 18:16 – What are the "חֻקֵּי הָאֱלֹהִים וְאֶת תּוֹרֹתָיו" to which Moshe and Yitro refer and when did Hashem give them?
- 18:21-26 – How did Yitro's system work? Were there really thousands of chosen heads (שרים)? What was their function?
- 18:24-26 – Did Moshe implement Yitro's advice to the letter or did he make modifications?
- 18:27 – Why did Moshe send Yitro away ("וַיְשַׁלַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת חֹתְנוֹ"), while begging Chovav to stay in Bemidbar 10?