(Exodus 18 — 1) "And Yithro heard" — What did he hear that

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Amalek 3:1

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 5, 2025

(Exodus 18:1) "And Yithro heard": What did he hear that caused him to come (and join Israel)? The war with Amalek, which is juxtaposed with this section. These are the words of R. Yehoshua. He heard of the (prospective) giving of the Torah and he came. For when the Torah was to be given to Israel, all the kings of the earth shook in their palaces, viz. (Psalms 29:9) "and (each king) in his palace accorded glory" (to the L–rd). At that time, all the kings of the nations convened with the wicked Bilam and said to him: Is it possible that He is going to do to us as He did to the generation of the flood? He replied: Fools that you are! The Holy One Blessed be He already swore to Noach that he would not bring (another) flood to the world, viz. (Isaiah 54:9) "For this to Me is like the waters of Noach, of which I swore that the waters of Noach would no more pass over the earth." They: Perhaps he will not bring a flood of water, but He will bring a flood of fire? Bilam: He will bring neither a flood of fire nor a flood of water, but the Holy One Blessed be He is giving Torah to His people and to His loved ones, viz. (Psalms, Ibid. 10) "the L–rd will give strength ("oz" = Torah) to His people." When all of them heard this from his mouth, they all responded (Ibid.) "May the L–rd bless His people with peace," and they turned and went, each to his place.

Themes

Torah Prophecy Divine justice Wisdom Charity

Biblical References

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