“Moses went and returned to Yeter his father-in-law and he said to him: Please, let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt and see if they are still alive. Yitro said to Moses: Go in peace” (Exodus 4:18). “Moses went and returned to Yeter his father-in-law” – that is what is written: “[Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place?]
He who has clean hands and is pure of heart, [who has not taken My name in vain, nor taken an oath deceitfully]” (Psalms 24:3–4). Who is able to climb the mountain of God? One who has these attributes; and all of them were stated in Moses’s regard. “Clean hands” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “I have not taken [nasati] one donkey from them…” (Numbers 16:15).
Had he taken a donkey that was theirs, how would he be different from robbers? Rather, so said Moses: All those journeys that we traveled in the wilderness, I did not say to one of them to take an item of mine and load it on his donkey. Nesia is an expression of nothing other than loading, as it is stated: “Each man loaded his donkey” (Genesis 44:13). “Pure of heart” – this is Moses, who did not set out on the mission of the Holy One blessed be He, until he clarified his undertaking, as it is stated: “And they will say to me: What is His name, [what shall I say to them?]” (Exodus 3:13).
“Who has not taken My name in vain” – this is the life of the Egyptian, as he killed the Egyptian only after he judged him and saw that he was liable for execution.1This derivation is based on the unusual way in which the verse states “My name” – nafshi, which is from the word nefesh, which generally means life. Alternatively, it is based on the opinion that Moses killed the Egyptian by mentioning the name of God (See Shemot Rabba 1:29).
“Nor taken an oath deceitfully” – this is Moses. When he went to Yitro he took an oath to him that he would not leave without his knowledge. When he went on the mission of the Holy One blessed be He, he went to Yitro and nullified his oath.2He received permission from Yitro to leave, and therefore did not violate his oath (Yefei Toar). That is what is written: “He returned to Yeter his father-in-law.”