Yitro and Amalek/0

Yitro and Amalek

Biblical Juxtaposition

Chapters 17 and 18 recount the diametrically opposite reactions of people from neighboring nations to the Children of Israel's exodus from Egypt. Chapter 17 describes how Amalek came to wage war, while Chapter 18 tells how Yitro came to share peaceful wishes and advice. [See Yitro's Purpose for the possibility that Yitro is coming as a representative of his nation to make a treaty with the Children of Israel, and not just on a personal visit.]

The contrast between the behaviors of Amalek and Yitro is a theme found already in the Bible and developed by classical Midrashim as well as medieval and modern exegesis. It is highlighted for the first time in King Shaul's warning to the Keini (Yitro's descendants) in Shemuel I 15:6 when he goes to wage war against Amalek:

"Move away from among the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt."¹

Rabbinic Elaboration

See also TanchumaYitro 5About Tanchuma and Shemot Rabbah 27:1 which present a more detailed comparison of Yitro with Amalek and his ancestor Esav.

A number of Rabbinic Midrashim take this one step further, suggesting that Yitro's visit was a direct consequence of the victory over Amalek, and they present a range of opinions to explain how these two events were connected:²

• Yitro came because he heard about the victory over Amalek – R. Yehoshua in Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelYitro Amalek 1About Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael,³ Pesikta DeRav Kahana Zakhor 3 (perhaps a later addition), TanchumaYitro 3About the Tanchuma, Tanchuma Buber Yitro 2-4.
• Yitro and Amalek were partners with Paroh, and Yitro repented after seeing the destruction of Amalek – Shemot Rabbah27:6About Shemot Rabbah.
• Yitro was part of Amalek's army, and he came to convert after Amalek was defeated – Midrash Shemuel12:2About Midrash Shemuel.

Literary Parallels

There are also a number of significant literary parallels between the two stories (Cf. U. CassutoIntro to Shemot 18About Prof. U. Cassuto), some of which are unique to them – click here to display a comparison table:

• Both speak of Moshe choosing people (17:9 and 18:25). These are the only cases in the Torah where Moshe is described as selecting (ב.ח.ר.).
• Both describe Moshe sitting (י.ש.ב.) (see 17:12 and 18:13). There is only one other case in the Torah (Shemot 2:15) which portrays Moshe as sitting.
• Both tell of something which was too heavy (כבד) for Moshe (17:12 and 18:18). There is only one other similar example in the Torah (Bemidbar 11:14).
• Additional words that appear in both stories are: מחר / ממחרת ,נצב, and עד בא השמש / עד הערב.

On this backdrop, some commentators have proposed that the parallels and contrasts between the stories influenced the placement of the story of Yitro's arrival. According to Ibn EzraShemot 18:1About Ibn Ezra, Tosafot Avodah Zarah 24b "Yitro",⁴ and U. CassutoIntro to Shemot 18About Prof. U. Cassuto, Yitro came only in the second year in the desert, but the Torah placed Chapter 18 in achronological order in order to juxtapose Yitro's conduct with that of Amalek. See Chronology for a full discussion of the chronology of Chapter 18.

¹ See also the proximity of the Keini to Amalek indicated by Shemuel I 27:8-10, and the alliance of Midyan and Amalek described in Shofetim 6:3,33 and 7:12. The tribe of Kayin (which is related to the Keini – see Shofetim 4:11) and Amalek also appear next to each other in the predictions of Bilam (Bemidbar 24:20-22).

² The Midrashim reflect a gradual progression in their portrayals of Yitro's character. R. Yehoshua in the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael merely says that Yitro heard about Amalek, but does not hint at any other connection between the two. The Tanchumas (and perhaps already the Pesikta, although this may be a later insertion) already portray Yitro in an unflattering light, reading him together with Amalek into the verse in Mishlei 19:25 "Flog a scoffer, and the simple will become prudent." Shemot Rabbah and Midrash Shemuel take this even further, deepening Yitro's relationship with the enemies of the Israelites. See Yitro's character.

³ Interestingly, in the Mekhilta, the Yitro story is part of the Amalek pericope.

⁴ See also Tzeror HaMor Shemot 18.