Parashat Yitro/Highlights

Parashat Yitro – Selected Highlights

• How keen is your artistic eye? Two paintings of the scene of Yitro's arrival differ on many fundamental exegetical questions about the episode – see Yitro's Arrival in Art.
• Ralbag and Abarbanel go head to head regarding whether Moshe's great spirituality caused him to make errors of judgment in mundane matters – see Ralbag on Moshe, and see Akeidat Yitzchak and Abarbanel for the chronological implications.
• Judging the people was only one of Moshe's many roles. See Abarbanel and the Vilna Gaon for their theories that Yitro's proposal addressed not only Moshe's judicial burden but also his other responsibilities.
• When was the Decalogue given? See Josephus on Chronology for the impact on the question of when Yitro arrived.
• Divine civil law – A central feature of the Torah which distinguishes it from all other Ancient Near Eastern law codes is that its civil legislation (like its rituals) is Divinely mandated. Was it always known that this was the plan? See the novel approach of the Akeidat Yitzchak regarding the impact of Yitro's advice.
• Parallels – Two Gentiles encounter the Children of Israel in the wilderness – one blesses them and one attempts to curse them. Their stories share similar features which allow the reader to contrast their actions and the consequences – see Yitro and Bilam.
• R. D"Z Hoffmann and U. Cassuto posit that Yitro came on a diplomatic mission. See Purpose of Yitro's Visit for possible influences of the early years of the State of Israel on Cassuto's suggestion.
• A riddle for the road: One name is shared by three distinct people – a Jew, a Gentile, and a possible convert. Who are they? Check your solution in our Puzzles section.