Exodus 18:1-12

Complete Jewish Bible

Parashah 17: Yitro (Jethro) 18:1–20:23(26)

18 Now Yitro the priest of Midyan, Moshe’s father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moshe and for Isra’el his people, how Adonai had brought Isra’el out of Egypt. ² After Moshe had sent away his wife Tzipporah and her two sons, Yitro Moshe’s father-in-law had taken them back. ³ The name of the one son was Gershom, for Moshe had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” ⁴ The name of the other was Eli‘ezer [my God helps], “because the God of my father helped me by rescuing me from Pharaoh’s sword.” ⁵ Yitro Moshe’s father-in-law brought Moshe’s sons and wife to him in the desert where he was encamped, at the mountain of God. ⁶ He sent word to Moshe, “I, your father-in-law Yitro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

⁷ Moshe went out to meet his father-in-law, prostrated himself and kissed him. Then, after inquiring of each other’s welfare, they entered the tent. ⁸ Moshe told his father-in-law all that Adonai had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Isra’el’s sake, all the hardships they had suffered while traveling and how Adonai had rescued them. ⁹ Yitro rejoiced over all the good that Adonai had done for Isra’el by rescuing them from the Egyptians. ¹⁰ Yitro said, “Blessed be Adonai, who has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh, who has rescued the people from the harsh hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that Adonai is greater than all other gods, because he rescued those who were treated so arrogantly.” ¹² Yitro Moshe’s father-in-law brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aharon came with all the leaders of Isra’el to share the meal before God with Moshe’s father-in-law.