It's not just a matter of logistics. According to tradition, the timing was absolutely crucial, divinely ordained, and brimming with meaning.
Think about it: The Israelites are freed from centuries of slavery, they witness incredible miracles, and then… they wait. Three months. What's that all about?
Well, according to Legends of the Jews, God had very good reasons for delaying the giving of the Torah until after Jethro's departure. And the specific time He chose was chosen for a good reason, too.
The analogy used is fascinating. Just as a female proselyte—a woman converting to Judaism—or a woman freed from captivity, or even an emancipated slave, couldn't enter wedlock immediately, God waited. They each needed a period of adjustment, a time to acclimate to their new status. Tradition says they must live as a free Jewess for three months before marriage. Similarly, God waited three months after delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage before “marrying” them, so to speak, at Mount Sinai.
It's a powerful image: God betrothed to Israel. But there's more!
The tradition continues, painting God as a king preparing for his wedding. Kings overwhelm their chosen brides with gifts. So too, Israel first received manna to eat, a miraculous well for water, and flocks of quails for meat. Only then was the Torah granted to them. These weren’t just random acts of kindness; they were bridal gifts, preparing Israel for their covenantal relationship with God.
And what about Moses in all this? He was practically bursting with anticipation. Remember the promise God made when He first appeared to Moses? "When thou has brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). Moses, according to this tradition, waited "most longingly" for that promised moment, constantly asking, "When will this time come to pass?"
Finally, as the moment approached, God tells Moses, "The time is at hand when I shall bring about something entirely new." It's a tantalizing hint, isn't it? It speaks to the profound transformation that's about to occur. It's not just about receiving laws; it's about entering into a new, revolutionary relationship with the Divine.
So, next time you read about the Exodus and the subsequent wait for Sinai, remember this: it wasn't just a pause. It was a preparation. A betrothal. A moment of profound transformation that shaped the destiny of Israel and, in many ways, the world. And it makes you wonder, doesn't it? What "entirely new" thing is God waiting to reveal to us now?