He appears in the narrative, offers Moses some crucial advice, and then… well, what do we really know about him?

The Book of Exodus tells us, “Yitro heard…” (Exodus 18:1). But heard what, exactly? Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating answer: Yitro heard about the downfall of Amalek.

But why is that significant?

Well, the Midrash draws a connection between Yitro, Amalek, and a proverb: "Strike the cynic, and the naïf will become clever" (Proverbs 19:25). According to Shemot Rabbah, Amalek and Yitro were both advisors to Pharaoh. Imagine the scene: Pharaoh, seeking counsel on how to deal with the Israelites, turns to these two figures. But something dramatic shifts when Yitro witnesses God's victory over Amalek.

The Midrash emphasizes the utter destruction of Amalek. As it says, "For I will expunge the memory of Amalek" (Exodus 17:14). Yitro sees this, and it shakes him to his core. He reconsiders everything and repents. He thinks, "I must go only to the God of Israel."

The text asks, "From where do you derive that Amalek and the Midianites were enemies of Israel?" Well, the Torah offers clues. Remember the elders of Moab and Midian conspiring against Israel (Numbers 22:7)? Or the Midianites and Amalekites who would ravage Israel's crops (Judges 6:3-4)? These moments paint a picture of animosity.

And what about the wicked Bilam? When he "saw Amalek" (Numbers 24:20), he knew their fate was sealed. But when he looked at Yitro, something had changed. The Midrash compares it to a hunter who traps one bird, then tries to trap another that flies and lands on a royal statue. The hunter is now in a bind, fearful of harming the statue. Bilam, seeing Yitro's repentance, realizes he has "fled to a fine place and was spared." Bilam says about Amalek: “…its end will be destruction” (Numbers 24:20). But about Yitro? "Mighty is your dwelling" (Numbers 24:21).

The Midrash even connects Yitro to Abraham, who is also described as "mighty" (Bava Batra 15a, based on Psalms 89:1). It's a powerful image: Yitro, once an enemy, now aligned with the patriarchs.

So, "strike the cynic," says the proverb, "and the naïf will become clever." Amalek represents the cynic, while Yitro represents the naïf who learns from witnessing the cynic's downfall.

But the story doesn't end there. The Midrash draws another parallel, this time to Moses. "Rebuke the discerning" (Proverbs 19:25) refers to Moses, who is rebuked by Yitro for exhausting himself by judging the people alone. "Why are you sitting alone?" (Exodus 18:14), Yitro asks, warning, "You will wear away" (Exodus 18:18). Yitro advises Moses to seek God's guidance, saying, "Heed my voice, I will counsel you [and may God be with you]" (Exodus 18:19). And what does Moses do? "Moses heeded his father-in-law, and he performed everything that he had said" (Exodus 18:24).

What a powerful lesson! Yitro, the outsider, the former advisor to Pharaoh, becomes a source of wisdom and guidance for Moses himself. It reminds us that wisdom can come from unexpected places, and that even those who once stood on the opposite side can find redemption and offer invaluable insights. It challenges us to consider who we might be overlooking, and what wisdom they might hold.