Yitro – Names/4
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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 came twice:
- 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.
- Yitro = Chovav:
- 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.
- 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.