Yitro – Religious Identity/4

Yitro's Religious Identity

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.

  • Yitro was excommunicated and was unable to hire any shepherds – Tanchuma Shemot 11, Midrash Aggadah (Buber) Shemot 2:16, Shemot Rabbah 1:32.
  • Daughters were frequently shepherds – Josephus Antiquities 2:11:2, Radak Bereshit 29:9, R. D"Z Hoffmann Shemot 2:16. See Rachel.
• How did the shepherds dare harass the daughters of the kohen?
  • Yitro was excommunicated – Tanchuma Shemot 11, Midrash Aggadah (Buber) Shemot 2:16, Shemot Rabbah 1:32, Rashi Shemot 2:16-17.
  • The set schedule was that the other shepherds drew water first, and on this day the daughters happened to come early – Ramban 2:16.
• What was Moshe's religious identity when he married Zipporah?
  • Moshe was a full fledged Jew –
  • Moshe had very little Jewish background – see Ramban Shemot 2:11.
• Why did Moshe marry Zipporah?
  • She came from a monotheistic or at least non-idolatrous family – R. Saadia 18:8, Ibn Ezra 2:16, Tanchuma Shemot 11, Midrash Aggadah (Buber) Shemot 2:16, Shemot Rabbah 1:32, Rashi Shemot 2:16.
  • She followed in the footsteps of the Matriarchs – Sefer Divrei HaYamim shel Moshe Rabbeinu.
  • Yitro was very wise and had Divine inspiration – Tzeror HaMor Shemot 18:24.
  • She provided food for Moshe and saved him from death when her grandfather imprisoned him – Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Shemot 2:21, Sefer Divrei HaYamim shel Moshe Rabbeinu.
  • Her family demonstrated the Abrahamic traits of kindness and hospitality – R. Avraham Ben HaRambam Shemot 2:20. This attribute may have trumped any concerns over idolatry.¹
  • Moshe needed to marry specifically the daughter of a priest, as only a priestly estate could afford him political asylum and protection from Paroh – R. Dan cited by R. Bachya 2:21. He adds that Yitro first converted to Judaism/monotheism.
• Did Moshe make a pact with Yitro?

  See the story of the Malon in Shemot 4.

  • Yitro was an idolater and they made an agreement that one of Moshe's sons would worship idols or remain uncircumcised – R"E HaModai in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 1, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Shemot 4:24.
  • Yitro had already forsaken idols and there was no such deal – Tanchuma Shemot 11, Shemot Rabbah 1:32.
  • Yitro had already forsaken idols, but there was an accord regarding circumcision – perhaps Midrash Aggadah (Buber) Shemot 2:16, 18:3.
• Purpose of Yitro's visit in Shemot 18:
  • Religious – to convert – R. Eliezer in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yitro Amalek 1, Talmud Bavli Zevachim 116a,² Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Shemot 18:6-7, Tanchuma Buber Yitro 1-5, Tanchuma Yitro 1-7, Shemot Rabbah 27:1-9, Ramban Shemot 18:1,12, Minchah Belulah 18:5,9.
  • Personal – to reunify the family – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor.
  • Political – a diplomatic mission – Cassuto.
• What is the meaning of vayichad?
  • Related to chad (sharp) – Yitro circumcised himself with a sharp knife – Rav in Bavli Sanhedrin 94a.
  • Related to yihud (singularity) – Yitro recognized Hashem's exclusivity – Tanchuma Buber Yitro 5.
  • Related to yhd (Jew) – Yitro converted to Judaism – Tanchuma Yitro 7, Tanchuma Buber Yitro 5 (second option).
  • For additional possibilities, see vayichad.
• Was Yitro's advice Divinely inspired?
  • Yes – Tzeror HaMor Shemot 18:24.
  • No, it wasn't even constructive – Abarbanel.
• Why were Moshe's sons not chosen for leadership positions?
  • Because of their lineage – Abarbanel Shemot 28.
  • Other reasons – see Moshe's sons.

¹ Compare to case of Rivkah, and see Derashot HaRan 5 regarding Rachel and Leah.

² See note on Exegetical Approaches page regarding the different versions of the Bavli.