שמות רבה כ״זShemot Rabbah 27

Section 1א׳

וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כז, י): רֵעֲךָ וְרֵעַ אָבִיךָ אַל תַּעֲזֹב, רֵעֲךָ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים קכב, ח): לְמַעַן אַחַי וְרֵעָי. וְרֵעַ אָבִיךָ, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מא, ח): זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֹהֲבִי, אַל תַּעֲזֹב, וְאִם עָזַבְתָּ תֵּן דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁלֹא תִכָּנֵס לְבֵית אָחִיךָ. בְּיוֹם אֵידֶךָ, זֶה יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְעֵשָׂו. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי כְּשֶׁהֶגְלָה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבָבֶל הָיוּ כְּפוּתִים מֵאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּמִדְרַשׁ אֵיכָה, עַד (ישעיה כא, טו): כִּי מִפְּנֵי חֲרָבוֹת נָדָדוּ, אֲבִיכֶם שֶׁהָיָה מֻשְׁלָךְ בַּמִּדְבָּר פָּתַחְתִּי לוֹ בְּאֵר מַיִם, וְאַתֶּם עֲשִׂיתֶם כָּךְ, הֱוֵי (משלי כז, י): טוֹב שָׁכֵן קָרוֹב מֵאָח רָחוֹק. דָּבָר אַחֵר, טוֹב שָׁכֵן קָרוֹב, הוּא יִתְרוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה רָחוֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִן עֵשָׂו אָחִיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, בְּיִתְרוֹ מַה כְּתִיב (שמואל א טו, ו): וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַקֵּינִי, בְּעֵשָׂו כְּתִיב (דברים כה, יז): זָכוֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק וגו', אַתָּה מוֹצֵא דְבָרִים רַבִּים כְּתוּבִים בְּעֵשָׂו לִגְנַאי וּכְתוּבִים בְּיִתְרוֹ לְשֶׁבַח, בְּעֵשָׂו כְּתִיב (איכה ה, יא): נָשִׁים בְּצִיּוֹן עִנּוּ, וּבְיִתְרוֹ כְּתִיב (שמות ב, כא): וַיִּתֵּן אֶת צִפֹּרָה בִתּוֹ. בְּעֵשָׂו כְּתִיב (תהלים יד, ד): אֹכְלֵי עַמִּי אָכְלוּ לֶחֶם, וּבְיִתְרוֹ כְּתִיב (שמות ב, כ): קִרְאֶן לוֹ וְיֹאכַל לָחֶם. בְּעֵשָׂו כְּתִיב (דברים כה, יח): וְלֹא יָרֵא אֱלֹהִים, וּבְיִתְרוֹ כְּתִיב (שמות יח, כג): וְצִוְּךָ אֱלֹהִים. עֵשָׂו בִּטֵּל אֶת הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, וּבְיִתְרוֹ כְּתִיב (שמות ב, יב): וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן משֶׁה עֹלָה וּזְבָחִים. עֵשָׂו שָׁמַע בִּיצִיאָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִלְחַם עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יז, ח): וַיָּבֹא עֲמָלֵק, יִתְרוֹ שָׁמַע בְּשִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבָא וְנִדְבַּק עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ.

“Yitro, priest of Midian, father-in-law of Moses, heard everything that God had performed on behalf of Moses and Israel His people, that the Lord had taken Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1). “Yitro…heard.” That is what is written: “Do not forsake your friend, and your father’s friend. [Do not enter your brother’s house on the day of your calamity. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother]” (Proverbs 27:10). “Your friend,” this is the Holy One blessed be He, just as it says: “For the sake of My brothers and friends” (Psalms 122:8). “Your father’s friend,” this is Abraham, as it is stated: “The descendants of Abraham My beloved” (Isaiah 41:8). “Do not forsake,” and if you forsake, make certain that you “do not enter your brother’s house on the day of your calamity,” this is Ishmael and Esau. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Nebuchadnezzar exiled Israel to Babylon their [hands] were bound behind them, as it is written in Midrash Eikha until “for they wandered due to swords” (Isaiah 21:15). Your ancestor, who was cast in the wilderness, I opened a spring of water for him, and you did this? That is, “a close neighbor is better than a distant brother.” Another matter, “a close neighbor is better,” this is Yitro, who was unrelated to Israel, [who was better] than Esau, Jacob’s brother. Regarding Yitro, what is written? “Saul said to the Kenite: [Go, depart, descend from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they ascended from Egypt]” (I Samuel 15:6). Regarding Esau, it is written: “Remember what Amalek did to you…” (Deuteronomy 25:17). You find many matters written in a derogatory manner regarding Esau that are written in a complimentary manner regarding Yitro. Regarding Esau it is written: “They tormented women in Zion” (Lamentations 5:11). Regarding Yitro it is written: “He gave Tzipora, his daughter, [to him as a wife]” (Exodus 2:21). Regarding Esau it is written: “They, who devour my people as if eating bread” (Psalms 14:4). Regarding Yitro it is written: “Call him and let him eat bread” (Exodus 2:20). Regarding Esau it is written: “And not God-fearing” (Deuteronomy 25:18). Regarding Yitro it is written: “And God will command you” (Exodus 18:23). Esau annulled the offerings. Regarding Yitro it is written: “Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and feast-offerings” (Exodus 18:12). Esau heard of Israel’s departure and waged war with them, as it is stated: “Amalek came [and waged war with Israel in Refidim]” (Exodus 17:8). Yitro heard Israel’s praise and came and joined them, as it is stated: “Yitro…heard.”

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב (משלי ג, לה): כָּבוֹד חֲכָמִים יִנְחָלוּ, זֶה יִתְרוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּא אֵצֶל משֶׁה מַה כָּבוֹד נָחַל (שמות יח, ו): וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל משֶׁה אֲנִי חֹתֶנְךָ יִתְרוֹ בָּא אֵלֶיךָ, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר שָׁלַח לוֹ בְּיַד שָׁלִיחַ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר שָׁלַח לוֹ אִגֶּרֶת וְאָמַר עֲשֵׂה בְּגִינִי, וְאִם אֵין אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה בְּגִינִי עֲשֵׂה בְּגִין אִשְׁתְּךָ, וְאִם אֵין אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה בְּגִינָהּ עֲשֵׂה בְּגִין בָּנֶיךָ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לוֹ צֵא, וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל משֶׁה, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נ, א): אֵל אֱלהִים ה' דִּבֶּר וַיִּקְרָא אָרֶץ, אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁאֲנִי מְקָרֵב אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁאֲנִי מְרַחֵק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה כג, כג): הַאֱלֹהֵי מִקָּרוֹב אָנִי נְאֻם ה', אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁקֵּרַבְתִּי לְיִתְרוֹ וְלֹא רִחַקְתִּיו, אָדָם זֶה שֶׁבָּא אֶצְלִי לֹא בָּא אֶלָּא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, וְלֹא בָּא אֶלָּא לְהִתְגַּיֵּר, אַף אַתָּה קָרְבֵהוּ אַל תַּרְחִיקֵהוּ, מִיָּד (שמות יח, ז): וַיֵּצֵא משֶׁה לִקְרַאת חֹתְנוֹ. אָמְרוּ, יָצָא משֶׁה יָצָא אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא, וְשִׁבְעִים מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף אָרוֹן יָצָא עִמָּהֶם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כָּבוֹד חֲכָמִים יִנְחָלוּ.

Another matter, “Yitro…heard,” that is what is written: “The wise will inherit honor” (Proverbs 3:35), this is Yitro; when he came to Moses he inherited great honor. “He said to Moses: I, your father-in-law Yitro, am coming to you, [and your wife and her two sons with her]” (Exodus 18:6). Rabbi Yehoshua says: He sent a messenger to him. Rabbi Eliezer says: He sent him a letter and said: ‘Act for my sake. If you do not act for my sake, do it for your wife’s sake. If you do not act for her sake, act for the sake of your sons.’ Rabbi Eliezer says: The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Go out.’ “He said to Moses,” the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘It is I who spoke and the world came into being,’ as it is stated: “The Almighty God, the Lord, has spoken, calling the earth” (Psalms 50:1). It is I who brings near and it is I who distances, as it is stated: “Am I God from near, the utterance of the Lord, [but not God from afar?]” (Jeremiah 23:23). It is I who brought Yitro near and did not distance him. This person who came to Me came only in the name of Heaven, and came only to convert; you too, bring him near and do not distance him. Immediately, “Moses emerged to greet his father-in-law” (Exodus 18:7). [The Sages] said: Moses emerged, Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel emerged. Some say: Even the Ark emerged with them. That is why it is stated: “The wise will inherit honor.”

Section 3ג׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ, רְאֵה כַּמָּה טוֹבוֹת וּבְרָכוֹת בָּאוּ לְיִתְרוֹ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנִּתְחַתֵּן עִם משֶׁה, מַה כְּתִיב (שמות יח, יב): וַיָּבֹא אַהֲרֹן וְכֹל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּא בִּלְעָם לְקַלֵּל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֹא דַיָּן שֶׁלֹא קִלְלָן אֶלָא בֵּרְכָן, וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה עֲמָלֵק הִתְחִיל לְקַלְּלוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כד, כ): רֵאשִׁית גּוֹיִם עֲמָלֵק וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ עֲדֵי אֹבֵד, אֲבָל לְיִתְרוֹ מַהוּ אוֹמֵר (במדבר כד, כא): אֵיתָן מוֹשָׁבֶךָ וְשִׂים בַּסֶּלַע קִנֶּךָ, אָמַר לוֹ קֵינִי עִמָּנוּ הָיִיתָ בָּעֵצָה, מִי הוֹשִׁיבְךָ אֵצֶל אֵיתָנֵי עוֹלָם, מָשָׁל לְצִפּוֹר שֶׁבָּרַח מִן הַצַּיָּד וְנָפְלָה לְתוֹךְ יָדוֹ שֶׁל אַנְדְּרוּאַנְטִיָא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתוֹ הַצַּיָּד הִתְחִיל מְקַלְּסָהּ וְאָמַר לָהּ כַּמָּה נָאָה בְּרִיחָה שֶׁבָּרַחְתָּ, כָּךְ הָיָה בִּלְעָם מְשַׁבֵּחַ אֶת יִתְרוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ: אֵיתָן מוֹשָׁבֶךָ.

Another matter, “Yitro…heard.” See how much goodness and blessing came to Yitro from the time that he became associated through marriage with Moses. What is written? “Aaron and all the elders of Israel came” (Exodus 18:12). Likewise, you find that when Bilam came to curse Israel, not only did he not curse them, but he blessed them. Moreover, when he saw Amalek, he began to curse it, as it is stated: “He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but its end will be oblivion” (Numbers 24:20). However, what does he say regarding Yitro? “He saw the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Mighty is your dwelling; set your nest in a rock” (Numbers 24:21). He said to him: ‘Kenite, you participated with us in the counsel; who seated you with the mighty of the world?’ This is analogous to a bird that fled from the hunter and fell into the hands of a royal statue. When the hunter saw it he began lauding it and said to it: ‘What a fine flight that you fled.’ So too, Bilam was praising Yitro and said to him: “Mighty is your dwelling.”