Cleave to the Worthy and Examine a Bride by Her Brothers

(Exodus 6:23-25) (verse 20) "And Amram took Yocheved his aunt" (written at remez 95). "And Aaron took Elisheva daughter of Amminadab." Rabbi Elazar said: A man should always attach himself to good people, for behold Moses, who married the daughter of Jethro, and there came forth from him Jonathan [who served idolatry]; Aaron, who married the sister of Nahshon, and there came forth from him Phinehas. But did Phinehas not come from Jethro? Is it not written, "And Eleazar son of Aaron took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel" (Exodus 6:25), meaning one who came from Jethro, who fattened calves for idolatry? No, he came from Joseph, who battled with his evil inclination. But did the tribes not despise him, saying, Have you seen this son of Puti, whose mother's father fattened calves for idolatry, and he has killed a prince of a tribe in Israel? Rather, if his father's father was from Joseph, his mother's mother was from Jethro; and if his father's father was from Jethro, his mother's mother was from Joseph. This is also precise, for it is written "Putiel" and not "Putiel" [the spelling alludes to both, peace through Joseph and the fattening through Jethro]. Rava said: One who marries a woman must examine her brothers, as it is said, "And Aaron took Elisheva daughter of Amminadab." From the implication of what is said, "daughter of Amminadab," do I not know that she is the sister of Nahshon? Then what does Scripture mean to teach by saying "sister of Nahshon"? From here we learn that one who marries a woman must examine her brothers. It was taught: Most sons resemble the brothers of the mother. (verse 26) "This is Aaron and Moses" (see entry 62).