Yitro – Names/4

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

Related Topics

• Why were the daughters shepherding?Cf. Rachel shepherding Laban's sheep and the discussion there of when Laban sons were born. See Yitro's Daughters.
  • Reuel/Yitro had no sons – this could be the position of Demetrius. According to him, Shofetim 1:16 and 4:11 are speaking of descendants of Zipporah's uncle (and not her brother).
  • Reuel/Yitro had no sons yet, but did have later – Tanchuma Shemot 16 based on Shofetim 1:16 and 4:11.
  • Daughters were frequently shepherds, even when there were sons (the sons are not mentioned here because they were not essential for the plot) – Josephus Antiquities 2:11:2, Radak Bereshit 29:9, R. D"Z Hoffmann Shemot 2:16.
• Who married off Zipporah to Moshe?
  • Her grandfather Reuel who is the head of the household- Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan) Shemot 2:21, Ibn Ezra Long Commentary 2:18, Ibn Kaspi.
  • Her father Reuel who is Yitro – Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Ibn Janach.
  • Her father Reuel who is not Yitro – Ibn Ezra Bemidbar, Biur, last approach.
  • Her father Yitro who is not Reuel – Ramban.
• How much time elapsed between Shemot 2 and 3

  What is the meaning of ויהי בימים הרבים ההם in Shemot 2:23)?

  • Many years – Michaelis (cited in Shadal).
  • A short time – Ramban.
• Who accompanied Yitro in Shemot 18?
  • Zipporah and her two sons – this is the standard assumption.
  • His own wife and sons, in addition to Zipporah and her two sons – Minchah Belulah Shemot 18:5 (see here).
• Relationship of Shemot 18 and Bemidbar 10:29-33:

  How many times did Yitro come? Is the last verse of Shemot 18 in its chronological place? Did Yitro ultimately remain with the Children of Israel?

  • Yitro = Chovav:
    • Yitro came twice:
      • Yitro came in the first year and left in the second year (Shemot 18 = Bemidbar 10), but then returned again (as his descendants are with the Children of Israel in Shofetim 1) – R"E HaModai in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 2 according to Ramban,¹ Akeidat Yitzchak.²
      • Yitro came in the first year (Shemot 18), departed before the Decalogue, returned in the second year (Bemidbar 10), and then remained with the Children of Israel – Ramban, Peirush HaRosh.
      • Yitro came in the first year (Shemot 18) and again in the second year (Bemidbar 10) and returned to Midyan on both occasions.
    • Yitro came only once (Shemot 18 = Bemidbar 10) and did not remain with the nation:
      • Yitro came and left only in the second year – Ibn Ezra, Cassuto.
      • Yitro came in the first year and left in the second year – Rashi, Abarbanel, and Shadal.
  • Yitro ≠ Chovav (and Shemot 18 ≠ Bemidbar 10), each came only once, and Yitro came and left in the first year – presumably Josephus, Biur Bemidbar 10:29, Hoil Moshe Bemidbar 10:29.
• What is the meaning of vayshalach in 18:27?
  • Moshe actively sent Yitro away so that he would not be present for the Decalogue – R. Yehoshua in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 1-2, Pesikta DeRav Kahana BaChodesh 12:9,16, Tanchuma (Buber) Yitro 11, Peirush HaRosh Shemot 18:4.
  • Moshe gave Yitro an honorary escort – Ibn Ezra, Cassuto.
  • Moshe gave Yitro gifts – R"E HaModai in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 2.
• Did Yitro convert?
  • Yes – Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 1, Bavli Zevachim 116a,³ Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan) Shemot 18:6-7, Ramban. If Yitro converted, it is likely that he would have chosen to remain with the Children of Israel. Thus, R"E HaModai in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 2 and Ramban assume that Yitro converted, went back and forth, and ultimately stayed on with the nation.
  • No – Shadal and Cassuto posit that he did not convert, came only once, and left.
  • See here for a discussion of Yitro's religious beliefs during the various stages of his life.

¹ Ramban Shemot 18:1 cites the Mekhilta as asking rhetorically: "יכול שהלך ולא חזר". All other extant versions and manuscripts, though, read only "יכול שהלך ולא עשה". This leaves open the possibility that Yitro himself never returned but rather remained in Midyan to spread belief in God, and that only his descendants joined the Children of Israel.

² See Akeidat Yitzchak Bemidbar 72.

³ This is explicit in the printed editions of the Bavli which read 'and he converted' (ונתגייר). However, most manuscripts (as well as the Sheiltot #166) do not contain that word.