Jethro the Clever Convert and the Honor of a Father-in-Law

Another interpretation: "the maidens love You" (Song of Songs 1:3): the nations of the world come and convert. Who was this? Jethro. He heard of the giving of the Torah and came. What is written above the matter? The downfall of Amalek, and afterward "and Jethro heard." This is what Scripture says, "Strike the scoffer and the simple will become clever" (Proverbs 19:25). "Strike the scoffer": this is Amalek. "And the simple will become clever": this is Jethro. Seven names were given to him (written in remez 169). "Priest of Midian": Rabbi Yehoshua says he was a pagan priest, as in the matter where it says, "and Jonathan son of Gershom son of Manasseh" (Judges 18:30). Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says he was a prince, as in the matter where it says, "and David's sons were priests [chief officers]" (2 Samuel 8:18). "Father-in-law of Moses": at first Moses was honored through his father-in-law, as it is said, "and Moses went and returned" (Exodus 4:18); now Jethro was honored through Moses. They said to him, "What is your nature?" He said, "I am the father-in-law of Moses." "All that the LORD had done": Moses is weighed against Israel and Israel against Moses; the master is weighed against the disciple and the disciple against the master. "For the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt": this tells that the Exodus from Egypt is weighed against all the miracles and mighty deeds the Omnipresent did for Israel. (Exodus 18:2) "And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah" and so on. Rabbi Yehoshua says: after he sent her away with a bill of divorce; "sending" is said here and "sending" is said there [Deuteronomy 24:1], just as the sending mentioned there is a bill of divorce, so the sending mentioned here is a bill of divorce. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: after he sent her away with a mere declaration (in remez 174). (Exodus 18:3) "And her two sons" and so on, "in a foreign land." Rabbi Yehoshua says: it was certainly a foreign land to him. Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in says: "in a foreign land" Moses said, "since the whole world worships idols, whom shall I serve? Him who spoke and the world came into being." For when Moses said to Jethro, "Give me Zipporah your daughter as a wife," Jethro said, "Accept one thing I tell you, and I will give her to you as a wife." Moses said, "What is it?" He said, "The first son you have shall be for idolatry; from then on for the sake of Heaven." And he accepted it. He said, "Swear," and he swore to him, as it is said, "and Moses consented [vayyo'el]" (Exodus 2:21), and "consent" means nothing but an oath, as it is said, "and Saul adjured the people" (1 Samuel 14:24), and it is written, "and Naaman said, Consent and take two talents of silver" (2 Kings 5:23). Rav Acha in the name of Rabbi Yose bar Chanina: when Moses ascended on high he heard the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, sitting and engaging in the chapter of the [Red] Heifer, saying, "Eliezer My son says: the heifer is two years old and the calf is one year old." Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He, "Master of the world, the upper and lower worlds are in Your authority, and You sit and recite a law in the name of flesh and blood!" The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Moses, a certain righteous man is destined to arise in My world and is destined to open first with the chapter of the Heifer: Rabbi Eliezer says, the heifer is two years old," and so on. He said before Him, "Master of the world, may it be Your will that he come forth from my loins." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "By your life, he shall come forth from your loins," as it is written, "and the name of the one was Eliezer," and the name of that distinguished one was Eliezer.