The Comings and Goings of Jethro Parshat Yitro

(1) Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel God’s people, how the Eternal had brought Israel out from Egypt. (2) So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after she had been sent home, (3) and her two sons—of whom one was named Gershom, that is to say, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”; (4) and the other was named Eliezer, meaning, “The God of my father was my help, and He delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” (5) Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought Moses’ sons and wife to him in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

Jethro heard - Just above, in the incident with Amalek, it says that they came, "And fought with Israel at Refidim" (Ex.17:8). So it would make sense to follow that with "On the third month after the Children of Israel had gone forth from the land of Egypt..." because then it says, "Having journeyed from Refidim, they came to the Sinai Desert." (Ex. 19:1-2) If that is so, then why is the story of Jethro inserted in between these two chapters?

Now Rav Saadia Gaon said that Jethro came to the Sinai Desert before the giving of the Torah. But in my opinion, he only came in the second year, after the building of the Mishkan. Because it says in this chapter that he offered, "an olah and other sacrifices to God" (Ex.18:12), and it never says that they built an altar.

It also says, "I inform them of the laws and teachings of God." (Ex. 18:16) That has to be after the giving of the Torah, and further proves my position. And it also says Jethro came, "where [Moses] was camped at the mountan of God." (Ex. 18:5)

And now I will explain why the story of Jethro was inserted here. It is because the Torah mentions above all the evil that Amalek had done to Israel, so now it mentions in contrast all the good that Jethro did for Israel.

(29) Moses said to Hovav son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Eternal has said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will be generous with you; for the Eternal has promised to be generous to Israel.” (30) “I will not go,” he replied to him, “but will return to my native land.” (31) He said, “Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness and can be our guide. (32) So if you come with us, we will extend to you the same bounty that the Eternal grants us.” (33) They traveled from the mountain of the Eternal a distance of three days. The Ark of the Covenant of the Eternal traveled in front of them on that three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them; (34) and the cloud of the Eternal kept above them by day, as they moved on from camp.

(1) please do not leave us - At least allow your children to go with us, (2) for you know where we camp in the wilderness - If your children depart also you will be desecrating the name of the Eternal among the nations as they will say: “if Jethro would have seen any merit in this religion surely he and his sons would not have abandoned them!” Both Jethro and his sons agreed with this argument of Moses so that in the end only Jethro returned to his country, as we know from Exodus 18:27 “Moses saw his father-in-law Yitro off, and he went by himself back to his own country.” But there is no question that his children remained with Israel, as the Book of Judges testifies when writing about “the children of the Kenite, the father-in-law of Moses, having previously ascended from the city of palms with the tribe of Judah.” (Judges 1:16).

(9) Then I said to you, “I cannot bear the burden of you by myself. (10) The Eternal your God has multiplied you until you are today as numerous as the stars in the sky.— (11) May the Eternal, the God of your fathers, increase your numbers a thousandfold, and bless you as God promised you.— (12) How can I bear unaided the trouble of you, and the burden, and the bickering! (13) Pick from each of your tribes men who are wise, discerning, and experienced, and I will appoint them as your heads.” (14) You answered me and said, “What you propose to do is good.” (15) So I took your tribal leaders, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you: chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens, and officials for your tribes.