Yitro – Names/3

Was Yitro Really Moshe's Father-in-law?

Points of Dispute

Below are some of the central points of dispute (נקודות המחלוקת) between the various exegetes:

• Does Tanakh use multiple names to refer to the same character?
  • The same character can be referred to by many different names – Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael.
  • The same character can be referred to by two names – Sifre, Ibn Janach, Ibn Ezra.
  • Some names are not proper names but rather tribal affiliations or honorifics – R. D"Z Hoffmann (regarding Reuel), Nahum Sarna (regarding Yitro).
  • Different names refer to different people – Demetrius, Biur, the option that Yitro is Reuel's father.
• The meaning of the word choten ("חותן"):
  • It means only father-in-law – Shadal (this is also consistent with the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and Sifre).
  • It can also mean a brother-in-law – Ibn Janach, Ibn Ezra Short Commentary, Biur.
  • It can also mean a wife's grandfather – the option that Yitro is Reuel's father.
  • It can also mean a wife's uncle – Demetrius.
• The meaning of the word avihen ("אביהן"):
  • It means biological father – Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Ibn Janach, Ibn Ezra Short Commentary, Biur.
  • It means grandfather – Demetrius, Sifre, Ibn Kaspi.
  • It means father in 2:16 and grandfather in 2:18 – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Ibn Ezra Long Commentary, Ramban.