Yitro – Religious Identity/4
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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 Yerushalmi (Yonatan) 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 Yerushalmi (Yonatan) 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 Yerushalmi (Yonatan) 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.
