Why Moses Returned to Jethro to Annul His Vow

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shemot 18:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: I am shooting My words into your mouth like an arrow; and "I will instruct you" (horeitikha) is nothing other than an expression of shooting, as in "he shall surely be shot through" (Exodus 19:13). Once the Holy One, blessed be He, brought him the good tidings that He was with him, he immediately took upon himself to go, as it is said, "And Moses went and returned" etc. (Exodus 4:18). Now it need only have said, "and he returned to Egypt." Rather, why did he return to Jethro? To annul his vow, for he said to the Holy One, blessed be He: I have sworn to Jethro. He went to Jethro. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He tied a cloud there, and, as it were, annulled the vow of Moses.

Themes

MosesEgyptCovenantExodusPassover

Biblical References

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