Difference between revisions of "Yitro's Sacrifices and Eating Bread Before God/2"
(Original Author: Yonatan Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
(Original Author: Yonatan Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
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<subopinion name="Moshe's Tent">Moshe's personal tent | <subopinion name="Moshe's Tent">Moshe's personal tent | ||
<p>Moshe's tent was mentioned just a few verses earlier in 18:7.</p> | <p>Moshe's tent was mentioned just a few verses earlier in 18:7.</p> | ||
− | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SeikhelTov18-12" data-aht="source">Seikhel Tov</a><a href="SeikhelTov18-12" data-aht="source">18:12</a><a href="R. Menachem b. Shelomo" data-aht="parshan">About Seikhel Tov</a></multilink>,<fn>According to Seikhel Tov, the Divine presence was actually located in the cloud pillar which was next to Moshe's tent, and not in Moshe's tent itself.</fn> <multilink><a href="Kaspi18-12" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="Kaspi18-12" data-aht="source">18:12</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About Ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, one option in <multilink><a href="Ralbag18-12" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="Ralbag18-12" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:12</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About Ralbag</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Hoil18-7" data-aht="source">Hoil Moshe</a><a href="Hoil18-7" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:7</a><a href="R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Hoil Moshe)" data-aht="parshan">About Hoil Moshe</a></multilink>,<fn>The Hoil Moshe suggests that this is Moshe's tent which was outside the camp. See <a href="$">אהל מועד</a> for more on Moshe's tent.</fn> also see note below regarding Ibn Ezra.</mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SeikhelTov18-12" data-aht="source">Seikhel Tov</a><a href="SeikhelTov18-12" data-aht="source">18:12</a><a href="R. Menachem b. Shelomo (Seikhel Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About Seikhel Tov</a></multilink>,<fn>According to Seikhel Tov, the Divine presence was actually located in the cloud pillar which was next to Moshe's tent, and not in Moshe's tent itself.</fn> <multilink><a href="Kaspi18-12" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="Kaspi18-12" data-aht="source">18:12</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About Ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, one option in <multilink><a href="Ralbag18-12" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="Ralbag18-12" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:12</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About Ralbag</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Hoil18-7" data-aht="source">Hoil Moshe</a><a href="Hoil18-7" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:7</a><a href="R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi (Hoil Moshe)" data-aht="parshan">About Hoil Moshe</a></multilink>,<fn>The Hoil Moshe suggests that this is Moshe's tent which was outside the camp. See <a href="$">אהל מועד</a> for more on Moshe's tent.</fn> also see note below regarding Ibn Ezra.</mekorot> |
</subopinion> | </subopinion> | ||
<subopinion name="Cloud and Fire">The pillars of cloud and fire which housed God's presence | <subopinion name="Cloud and Fire">The pillars of cloud and fire which housed God's presence | ||
Line 74: | Line 74: | ||
</subopinion> | </subopinion> | ||
<subopinion name="A Meal With Sages">Partaking of a meal in the presence of sages (in this case Moshe) which is analogous to benefitting from the Divine presence | <subopinion name="A Meal With Sages">Partaking of a meal in the presence of sages (in this case Moshe) which is analogous to benefitting from the Divine presence | ||
− | <mekorot><multilink><a href="Berakhot64a" data-aht="source">Bavli Berakhot</a><a href="Berakhot64a" data-aht="source">64a</a><a href=" | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="Berakhot64a" data-aht="source">Bavli Berakhot</a><a href="Berakhot64a" data-aht="source">64a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Rashi18-12" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="Rashi18-12" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:12</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About Rashi</a></multilink><fn>This approach would also account for the absence of Moshe in the verse. It may be understanding <i>Elohim</i> as a person who represents God – see elh. Cf. the version in the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 1 which speaks of greeting one's friend. If this event took place on Yom HaKippurim, as may be the position of Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and Rashi – see Chronology, the backdrop for the Rabbinic suggestion may be the Divine rays of glory which shone on Moshe's face after his descent from Mount Sinai.</fn></mekorot> |
</subopinion> | </subopinion> | ||
<subopinion name="Covenantal Meal">Partaking of a covenantal meal made before God | <subopinion name="Covenantal Meal">Partaking of a covenantal meal made before God |
Version as of 00:28, 22 January 2015
Yitro's Sacrifices and Eating Bread Before God
Exegetical Approaches
A Gentile's Sacrifices
Why is Yitro (a Gentile) bringing sacrifices and making a festive meal?1
Celebration of the Jewish people's salvation
Conversion sacrifices
Covenant sealing meal
R. D"Z Hoffmann posits that the sacrifices and meal were not part of a religious ritual, but rather a political ceremony which accompanied the signing of a covenant between the Israelite nation and Yitro's clan.
Sacrifices to Elohim
Why is Yitro offering his sacrifices to Elohim and not to Hashem?3
Recognized Hashem
Yitro fully recognized Hashem as his God.
Did Not Yet Recognize Hashem
Yitro was still in the midst of his theological transformation and did not yet fully recognize Hashem as the one and only God.
Never Recognized Hashem
Yitro never became monotheistic and always considered Hashem to be only one of many gods.
Eating Bread Lifnei HaElohim
Exegetes differ on whether the term lifnei haElohim is used here to connote a particular geographical location. In addition, the meaning of our verse depends on when this story occurred and where the nation was encamped – see Chronology.
A Place With a Divine Presence
Lifnei haElohim means in front of a specific place where there was a Divine presence. This approach subdivides regarding the identity of that place:
Moshe's personal tent
Moshe's tent was mentioned just a few verses earlier in 18:7.
The pillars of cloud and fire which housed God's presence
The Tabernacle
An altar where sacrifices were offered before the building of the Tabernacle
A designated place for thanksgiving and prayer
Mount Sinai
The burning bush
A Sanctified Activity
"Eating before God" is an expression which connotes a sanctified activity, but not necessarily a particular location.
Partaking of Sacrifices
Partaking of a meal in the presence of sages (in this case Moshe) which is analogous to benefitting from the Divine presence
Partaking of a covenantal meal made before God
Where Was Moshe?
Moshe Participated in the Meal
Moshe participated, but this is understood and needed no mention, as the meal took place in Moshe's tent.12
Moshe Did Not Participate
This opinion subdivides in explaining Moshe's reasons for not participating in the meal: