Parashat Yitro — Jethro (his excellence)
יִתְרוֹ
Yitro (יִתְרוֹ) means "jethro (his excellence)" — taken, as every parashah name is, from the portion's opening words in the Hebrew.
The Readings
Torah Exodus 18:1-20:23 Read →
Haftarah Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 Read →
B'rit Chadashah Matthew 5:1-20 Read →
What Happens in Yitro
Yitro, priest of Midian, Moshe's father-in-law, hears all that God has done for Moshe and for Israel, and comes to the camp at the mountain of God, bringing Tzipporah and her two sons. Moshe bows, kisses him, and tells the whole story — and the Midianite priest rejoices, blesses YHVH, and confesses: now I know that YHVH is greater than all gods. He offers sacrifices, and Aharon and all the elders of Israel eat bread with him before God — a Gentile priest presiding at Israel's table, a quiet preview of the nations drawn in.
The next day Yitro watches Moshe judge the people alone from morning until evening, and delivers the Torah's classic lesson in delegation: the thing that you do is not good; you will surely wear away, both you and this people. His counsel: teach them the statutes and the way to walk; then select able men out of all the people — men who fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain — and set them as rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, so that every great matter comes to you and every small matter they judge themselves. Moshe listens, and Israel's judiciary is born from a father-in-law's advice.
In the third month, Israel camps before Sinai, and YHVH proposes covenant through Moshe: you have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now, if you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My own treasured possession among all peoples — for all the earth is Mine — and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. All the people answer together: all that YHVH has spoken we will do. Three days of consecration follow — washed garments, boundaries around the mountain — and on the third day the mountain itself becomes a throne room: thunder, lightning, thick cloud, fire, smoke ascending like a furnace, the whole mountain quaking, and the shofar sounding long and growing louder and louder while Moshe speaks and God answers him by voice. Then Elohim speaks all these words — the Ten Words — to the entire nation at once: I am YHVH your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt; no other gods; no carved images; the Name not taken in vain; remember the Shabbat to keep it holy; honor your father and your mother; no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no false witness, no coveting. The people, trembling at the voices and the flames, stand far off and beg Moshe to mediate — you speak with us, and we will hear — and Moshe draws near to the thick darkness where God is, receiving the first altar laws: an altar of earth or unhewn stone, for in every place where I record My name I will come to you and bless you.
Main Themes
Wise counsel and shared leadership A kingdom of priests and a holy nation The voice of God heard by an entire people The Ten Words as covenant charter Holy fear that draws near rather than flees
Key Events
· Yitro's visit and sacrifice
· The appointment of judges over thousands and hundreds
· The covenant proposal and Israel's acceptance
· Three days of consecration
· The descent of YHVH on Sinai
· The giving of the Ten Commandments
Key People
Yitro Moshe Aharon Tzipporah Gershom and Eliezer The children of Yisrael
Key Verses
Exodus 19:5 Read →
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;”
Exodus 19:6 Read →
“and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.””
Exodus 20:2 Read →
““I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
All 54 Torah portions → · Open the Torah Portion tool in Hebrew Explorer