Another interpretation: “Moses went” – that is what is written: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Who is “a friend loves”? This is Yitro, who accepted Moses when he was fleeing from Pharaoh. From here you learn that one who accepts upon himself to perform a mitzva, that mitzva does not cease from his household.
Yitro’s mitzva was that he accepted into his house a deliverer who fled from an enemy. From his house, one emerged who accepted an enemy who fled from a deliverer, and killed him. Who is that? Sisera, as it is stated: “Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Yael, wife of Ḥever the Kenite” (Judges 4:17), and it is written: “The children of the Kenite, father-in-law of Moses” (Judges 1:16).
Therefore, it says: “A brother is born for adversity” – because Yitro loved Moses and was his friend, therefore his descendants became brethren to Israel in their time of trouble, and Yael killed Sisera. When the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Go now, and I will send you to Pharaoh” (Exodus 3:10), he said to Him: ‘Master of the world, I am not able to do so, because Yitro accepted me and opened his house to me and I am like a son to him.
One who opens his door to another, [the latter] owes him his life.’ Likewise, you find regarding Elijah when he went to the widow from Tzarefat, her son died. He began pleading and saying: “Have You brought evil even upon the widow with whom I lodge, to kill her son?”3Due to Elijah’s debt of gratitude toward the widow, he risked his life on her behalf by praying impertinently for her son’s revival.
Similarly, Moses risked his life for Yitro by not undertaking God’s mission without Yitro’s permission (Etz Yosef). (I Kings 17:20). And it is written: “The Lord heeded the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child was restored” (I Kings 17:22). Moreover, anyone who opens his door to another, [the latter] is obligated in his honor more than in the honor of his father and mother. You find that at the moment that Elijah was taken from Elisha, and [Elisha] was privileged to take a double portion of his spirit, as it is stated: “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (II Kings 2:9), he should have gone to his father and mother and revived them as he did the son of his hostess.4See II Kings, chap. 4.
Likewise, Elijah should have revived his ancestors, as he did the son of the [widow from] Tzarefat, but he risked his life [only] on behalf of his hostess. That is why Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Yitro accepted me and treated me with respect; I will go only with his permission.’ Therefore, it is written: “Moses went and returned to Yeter his father-in-law.”