The Two Accounts Which Yitro Heard

Introduction

Main Question

In 18:1 Yitro hears of the wonders that Hashem performed for the Children of Israel, and this leads him to visit the Israelite camp. Upon his arrival, though, Yitro again hears of Hashem's miraculous acts, this time from Moshe (18:8). What need was there for Moshe's second account?

Comparing the Verses

A comparison of 18:1 and 18:8 highlights their structural similarity, but also draws attention to the differences in wording between them:

EN/HEע/E

פסוק א'	וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ כֹהֵן מִדְיָן חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה	אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱ-לֹהִים	לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ	כִּי הוֹצִיא ה' אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם.
פסוק ח'	וַיְסַפֵּר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹתְנוֹ	אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה'	לְפַרְעֹה וּלְמִצְרַיִם עַל אוֹדֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל	אֵת כָּל הַתְּלָאָה אֲשֶׁר מְצָאָתַם בַּדֶּרֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵם ה'.

Verse 1	Yitro, the kohen of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard	of all that God had done	to Moshe, and to Israel His people	how Hashem had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Verse 8	And Moshe told his father-in-law	all that Hashem had done	to Paroh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake	all the travail that had come upon them on the way and how Hashem delivered them.

In verse 1, Yitro hears news from an outsider, whereas in verse 8, Moshe, an eyewitness to the events, tells of them to Yitro.
In verse 1, Yitro hears what Elohim did, while in verse 8 he hears what Hashem did.
In verse 1, Yitro hears what happened to Moshe and the Children of Israel. In verse 8, in contrast, he hears what was done to Paroh and the Egyptians.
In verse 1, he hears how the people were taken out of Egypt whereas in verse 8 he hears how they were saved from "the travails on the way."

Are these differences simply literary variations, or do they suggest that what Moshe told Yitro was markedly distinct from what he had heard earlier? If there is a significant difference, what exactly was the new information or new emphasis that Moshe imparted? Why had Yitro not been privy to this earlier? And, finally, what impact did these new facts have on Yitro?

Impact on Yitro

The initial report of Hashem's miracles motivates Yitro to come and reunite Moshe with his family, but does not produce any recorded spoken reaction. In contrast, the second report prompts Yitro to rejoice, bless Hashem, declare His greatness, and offer sacrifices (18:9-12). The following table compares the two accounts Yitro heard with his verbal responses:

EN/HEע/E

פסוק א'	וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ כֹהֵן מִדְיָן חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה	אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱ-לֹהִים	לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ	כִּי הוֹצִיא ה' אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם.
פסוק ח'	וַיְסַפֵּר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹתְנוֹ	אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה'	לְפַרְעֹה וּלְמִצְרַיִם עַל אוֹדֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל	אֵת כָּל הַתְּלָאָה אֲשֶׁר מְצָאָתַם בַּדֶּרֶךְ וַיַּצִּלֵם ה'.
פסוק ט'	וַיִּחַדְּ יִתְרוֹ	עַל כָּל הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה'	לְיִשְׂרָאֵל	אֲשֶׁר הִצִּילוֹ מִיַּד מִצְרָיִם.
פסוק י'	וַיֹּאמֶר יִתְרוֹ	בָּרוּךְ ה' אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל	אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִצְרַיִם וּמִיַּד פַּרְעֹה	אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל אֶת הָעָם מִתַּחַת יַד מִצְרָיִם.

Verse 1	Yitro, the kohen of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard	of all that God had done	to Moshe, and to Israel His people	how Hashem had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Verse 8	And Moshe told his father-in-law	all that Hashem had done	to Paroh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake	all the travail that had come upon them on the way and how Hashem delivered them.
Verse 9	Yitro rejoiced	for all the goodness which Hashem had done	to Israel	in that He had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
Verse 10	Yitro said	'Blessed be Hashem, who has delivered	you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Paroh;	who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

Do Yitro's responses result specifically from the new aspects contained in Moshe's account, or are they a reaction to the initial report or to a combination of the two? What caused Yitro's spiritual epiphany? This question is dependent on how we understand the relationship between the two accounts.