Structure – Shemot 18/0

Structural Analysis – Shemot 18
"Yitro's Visit"

Open Structure in Stages   Open Outline

Broader Context

Shemot 18 is part of the larger unit "A Nation in Transition" which encompasses Chapters 15:22 – 18:27. For further discussion and alternative understandings of the relationship between Chapter 18 and its surrounding chapters, see Structure of Sefer Shemot.

Step 1 – Boundaries of the Unit

"Yitro's Visit" (18:1-27)

• Frame – Shemot 18 is a self-contained unit framed by Yitro's arrival and departure.¹
• Characters – Yitro and Moshe are the main protagonists throughout the chapter and the only speakers. In the surrounding chapters, in contrast, the nation plays a more active role.
• Plot – The unifying motif of the entire chapter is Yitro's interest and concern regarding the welfare of Moshe and the people. This theme is repeated numerous times – see vss. 1,8,9,14,17,23.

Step 2 – Division into Scenes

I. "Reunion" (18:1-12)
II. "Yitro's Advice" (18:13-26)
Aftermath: Yitro's Departure (18:27)

• Chapter 18 may be divided into two main scenes – verses 1-12 and verses 13-26.² Verse 27 closes the entire unit.³
• Plot – In the first scene of Chapter 18, Yitro and Moshe speak about the good (הַטּוֹבָה) that Hashem did (עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים, עָשָׂה ה‏'‏) for the nation, while in the second they discuss what is not good (לֹא טוֹב) about what Moshe is doing (הוּא עֹשֶׂה, אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה, עֲשֹׂהוּ, תַּעֲשֶׂה‎) to the nation.⁴
• Timing – The time marker, "And it happened on the next day" (18:13), divides the chapter into two scenes. See Chronology for the time frames of each scene.⁵

Step 3.1 – Subdivision of Scene I

A. "News & Arrival" (18:1-7)
B. "Conversation" (18:8-12)

• The first half of the chapter can be subdivided into two subscenes – verses 1-7 and verses 8-12.⁶
• Parallels – Each subscene opens with Yitro hearing of the wonders that Hashem has done for the Children of Israel (v.1 – וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ... חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים, v.8 – וַיְסַפֵּר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹתְנוֹ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה'‏). In each, the report is then followed by the actions of taking (וַיִּקַּח) and coming (וַיָּבֹא) (vss. 2,5,7,12) – see Literary Analysis for elaboration.
• Characters – In Subscene A, Yitro hears from an unidentified source about what has happened to Moshe and the nation, while in Subscene B, he hears from Moshe directly. For a detailed comparison and analysis, see Two Accounts.
• Setting – The first subscene moves from Midyan to Moshe's tent, while the second transpires in Moshe's tent.⁷
• Ending – At the conclusion of the first subscene, Moshe goes out to greet Yitro, while at the end of the second subscene, Aharon and the elders of Israel come to honor Yitro.⁸

Step 3.2 – Subdivision of Scene II

A. "Problem" (18:13-18)
B. "Proposal" (18:19-23)
C. "Implementation" (18:24-26)

• The second half of the chapter can be subdivided into three subscenes – verses 13-18, verses 19-23, and verses 24-26.⁹ In the first subscene Yitro observes the problem with what Moshe is doing (אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר הוּא עֹשֶׂה לָעָם, לֹא טוֹב הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה), in the second subscene he offers an alternative proposal (אִם אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה תַּעֲשֶׂה), while in the third subscene Moshe executes Yitro's plan (וַיַּעַשׂ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָמָר).
• Characters – Yitro and Moshe engage in dialogue in Subscene A, while Yitro is the sole speaker in Subscene B and Moshe implements alone in Subscene C.
• Contrasts – In Subscene A, Moshe sits alone in judgment and Yitro advises him that he "will not be able" (לֹא תוּכַל) to continue in this fashion, while in Subscene B, Yitro advises Moshe that by appointing others to judge he "will be able" (וְיָכָלְתָּ) to endure. See Moshe's Duties and Yitro's Advice and Literary Analysis for expansion.
• Parallels – Subscenes B and C share near identical language (vss. 21-22, 25-26) as Moshe implements Yitro's plan almost to the letter. See Advice vs. Implementation and Literary Analysis for discussions of the subtle differences.

Click here to continue to Literary Analysis.

¹ Cf. U. CassutoConclusion of Shemot 18About U. Cassuto who notes that the chapter begins with the "sending away" (שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ) of Zipporah (18:2) and concludes with the "sending away" (וַיְשַׁלַּח) of Yitro (18:27). He also notes that vayishma (וַיִּשְׁמַע) appears at both the beginning (18:1) and near the end (18:24) of the chapter.

² The structure here views the two scenes as being of equal importance. Alternatively, the first scene functions merely as an introduction, and the second scene is the main storyline.

³ The scenes are of roughly equal length. If one views 18:24-27 as an epilogue (see Chronology for the possibility that the implementation occurred only a year after the bulk of the chapter), then the two scenes (18:1-12 and 18:13-23) are almost identical in size.

⁴ The parallel language between "חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ" in v.1 and "חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר הוּא עֹשֶׂה לָעָם" in v.14 is noted by U. CassutoShemot 18:14About U. Cassuto.

⁵ According to the opinions that Scenes I and II did not occur in the same time frame, the Torah combines them in one unit because of their shared characters and content. See also Structure of Sefer Shemot for the possibility that the first part of Chapter 18 sums up the miracles of the first half of the book, and the second part of Chapter 18 connects to the Covenant section in the second half of the book.

⁶ Alternatively, the second subscene might begin in v.7.

⁷ See Eating Bread Lifnei HaElohim for whether the meal also took place in Moshe's tent.

⁸ Alternatively, in verse 5, Yitro comes to visit Moshe at "God's mountain," while in verse 12, Aharon and the elders reciprocate by coming to partake with Yitro "before God."

⁹ Verse 27 provides closure for the entire chapter.