Another matter, “Yitro…heard,” that is what is written: “Strike the cynic, and the naïf will become clever” (Proverbs 19:25). Likewise, it says: “With the punishment of a cynic, the naïf becomes wise” (Proverbs 21:11). Amalek and Yitro were consulted by Pharaoh. When Yitro saw that the Holy One blessed be He eliminated Amalek from this world and from the World to Come, he reconsidered and repented, as it is written above: “For I will expunge the memory of Amalek” (Exodus 17:14) and afterward: “Yitro heard.”
He said: ‘I must go only to the God of Israel.’ From where do you derive that Amalek and the Midianites were enemies of Israel?16The fact that Midian was an enemy of Israel explains why Yitro, who was from Midian, advised Pharaoh to harm Israel. As it is stated: The elders of Moav and the elders of Midian went” (Numbers 22:7). Likewise, “[Whenever Israel would sow,] the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east [would come up against them.
They would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth]” (Judges 6:3–4), and likewise, the wicked Bilam says: “He saw Amalek” (Numbers 24:20); that it did not change its ways. But when he saw that Yitro had repented, what did he say? “He saw the Kenite” (Numbers 24:21); this is analogous to a hunter who would hunt birds. He trapped the first.
He came to trap the second. It went and sat on the statue of the king. The hunter stood bewildered by it. He said to it: ‘If I throw a rock at you, I will be liable to be executed.
If I extend the reed, I am afraid that it might touch the king’s statue. I do not know what to say to you; rather, you fled to a fine place and were spared.’ So too, Bilam saw Yitro and Amalek in counsel. He stood [and looked] at Amalek and eradicated its name.17Bilam said about Amalek: “…its end will be destruction” (Numbers 24:20).
He came to look at Yitro and found that he repented. He said to him: ‘You fled well.’ That is, “Mighty is your dwelling” (Numbers 24:21), like Abraham.18Abraham is referred to as mighty; see, e.g., Bava Batra 15a based on Psalms 89:1. That is, “strike the cynic,” this is Amalek; “and the naïf will become clever,” this is Yitro.
“Rebuke the discerning” (Proverbs 19:25), this is Moses, whom Yitro admonished when he saw him sitting and judging Israel all day. He said to him: “Why are you sitting alone?” (Exodus 18:14). “You will wear away” (Exodus 18:18). He said to him: ‘Do not do it because it is my opinion, but rather, consult with the Holy One blessed be He,’ as it is stated: “Heed my voice, I will counsel you [and may God be with you]” (Exodus 18:19).
What is written thereafter? “Moses heeded his father-in-law, and he performed everything that he had said” (Exodus 18:24).