How Jethro Sent Moses a Letter on an Arrow to Enter the Camp

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Yitro 6:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 18:5–6:) "Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came..." "And he said to Moses: I am your father-in-law..." Who said to Moses, "I am your father-in-law"? He was not able to come to Moses. What did he do? He wrote a letter and tied it to an arrow and shot it, and the arrow came to Moses. Moses read it and went out to him, as it is said: "And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law" (ibid. v. 7). He entered the camp with him. What is written? "And Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread" (ibid. v. 12). After they had eaten with him, he said: Give me permission, that I may go to my place. Moses said to him: "And it shall be, if you go with us, that whatever good the Lord does for us, we will do good to you" (Numbers 10:32). He said to him: I seek to go and to declare the praise of the Holy One, blessed be He, in my place. Immediately, "And Moses sent his father-in-law away..." (Exodus 18:27). And when the Holy One, blessed be He, performed miracles for Israel, they praise Him [and the nations of the world praise Him], as it is said: "[All] the kings of the earth shall give thanks to You, [O Lord,] for they have heard the words of Your mouth" (Psalms 138:4).

Themes

HospitalityMoses

Biblical References

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