Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Yisro Rishon: Yisro and family arrive (Sunday, 14th Shevat)

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Parshas Yisro

Pesukim: 72 [Siman:יונדב]

Haftorah: Yeshayahu 6:1-13[1]

 

 

Number of Mitzvos:

There are a total of Seventeen Mitzvos in Parshas Yisro. Three positive commands and Fourteen negative commands.

A. Positive commands:

1. Mitzvah 25/Positive 12: To believe that the world has one G-d who created all the creations, and that He lived and will live forever, and that He took us out of Egypt and gave us the Torah.

2. Mitzvah 31/Positive 13: To sanctify the Shabbos in words by its entrance and exit.

3. Mitzvah 33/Positive 14: To honor one’s father and mother.

 

B. Negative commands:

1.      Mitzvah 26/Negative 14: Not to believe in any deity other than Hashem.

2.      Mitzvah 27/Negative 15: Not to make or manufacture idols.

3.      Mitzvah 28/Negative 16: Not to bow/prostrate to an idol.

4.      Mitzvah 29/Negative 17: Not to worship an idol in any of the ways that it is worshiped.

5.      Mitzvah 30/Negative 18: Not to swear in vain using G-d’s name.

6.      Mitzvah 32/Negative 19: Not to do Melacha on Shabbos, not us, our children, slaves or animals.

7.      Mitzvah 34/Negative 20: Not to murder.

8.      Mitzvah 35/Negative 21: Not to commit adultery with a married woman.

9.      Mitzvah 36/Negative 22: Not to kidnap a Jew.

10.  Mitzvah 37/Negative 23: Not to testify falsely.

11.  Mitzvah 38/Negative 24: Not to covet another’s item, such as his house, and contemplate doing actions to take it into his possession.

12.  Mitzvah 39/Negative 25: Not to make sculptures of humans.

13.  Mitzvah 40/Negative 26: Not to build the altar using stones that have touched iron, such as if they have been hewed using iron.

14.  Mitzvah 41/Negative 27: Not to use steps to walk onto the altar.

Rishon

  1. Yisro and family arrive:
  • Yisro, and Moshe’s wife/kids travel to him: Yisro the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moshe, heard all that Hashem did for Moshe and the Jewish people in taking them out of Mitzrayim. Yisro took with him Tzipporah, Moshe’s wife, and her two sons Gershom and Eliezer.
  • The names of Moshe’s sons: Gershom was named after the fact that Moshe lived in a foreign land, and Eliezer was named after the fact that Hashem helped Moshe and saved him from the sword of Pharaoh.
  • The meeting and subsequent meal: Yisro and family arrived at the desert, by Mount Sinai. Moshe went out to greet them after Yisro informed him of their arrival. They exchanged greetings and Moshe told Yisro all that occurred in Egypt and after their escape. Yisro rejoiced from hearing all the things Hashem did for the Jewish people, having saved them from the hands of Egypt. Yisro blessed Hashem, thanking Him for what He did, and exclaiming that now he knows that Hashem is greater than all deities. Yisro then brought offerings to Hashem, and Aaron and all the elders of the Jewish people sat for a meal with Yisro.

[1] So is followed by Sepharadi communities and Chabad. However, Ashkenazi communities read until verse 7:6 and also add 9:5-6

Shemot Chapter 18 — Q&A Based on Rashi (Part 1)

 

Verses 1–4: Yisro Hears and Comes

Q1: What did Yisro hear that prompted him to come? (18:1)

A: Rashi says he heard:

  1. The splitting of the Sea of Reeds
  2. The war with Amalek
    These events inspired him to join Israel.

 

Q2: Why did Yisro have so many names? (18:1)

A: He had seven names, each reflecting something about him:

  • Reu’el
  • Jether (יִתֶר) – he added a section to the Torah (“You must discern…”)
  • Yisro (יִתְרוֹ) – when he converted, a vav was added
  • Chovav – because he loved the Torah
  • Chever, Keini, Puti’el

Rashi brings two opinions about whether Reu’el was Yisro or his father.

 

Q3: What does “Moshe’ father‑in‑law” imply? (18:1)

A: Yisro took pride in Moshe, saying:
“I am the father‑in‑law of the king.”

 

Q4: What does the phrase “for Moshe and for Israel” teach? (18:1)

A: Moshe is considered equal to the entire nation.

 

Q5: Why had Zipporah been sent away? (18:2)

A: When Moshe returned to Egypt from Midian, Aaron advised not to bring his wife and sons into Egypt’s suffering.
So Moshe sent them back to Yisro.

 

Q6: Why was Moshe’ eldest son named Gershom? (18:3)

A: Because Moshe said:
“I was a stranger (גֵּר) in a foreign land.”

 

Q7: What miracle happened when Moshe fled Pharaoh? (18:4)

A: When Pharaoh sought to execute Moshe, his neck became hard like marble, and the sword could not injure him.

 

Verses 5–7: Yisro Arrives

Q8: Why mention “into the desert” if we already know they were in the desert? (18:5)

A: To praise Yisro:
He left a life of honor and comfort to come to the desolate desert to hear words of Torah.

 

Q9: Why does Yisro introduce himself with multiple reasons for Moshe to greet him? (18:6)

A: Yisro sent a message saying:
“If not for me, then for your wife; if not for her, then for your two sons.”
He provided several reasons to ensure Moshe would come.

 

Q10: Who bowed to whom when Moshe and Yisro met? (18:7)

A: Moshe bowed to Yisro.
We know because Moshe is often called “the man” (אִישׁ), and the verse hints through “a man to his fellow.”

 

Verses 8–12: Yisro Rejoices and Offers Sacrifices

Q11: Why did Moshe tell Yisro “all” that God had done? (18:8)

A: To draw Yisro’s heart closer to Torah.

 

Q12: What is “the travail” (הַתְּלָאָה) that Moshe described? (18:8)

A: The hardships at:

  • The Sea of Reeds
  • The attack of Amalek

Rashi notes that the root letters of the word are ל–א, with the ת being part of the noun form.

 

Q13: What does “וַיִּחַדְּ יִתְרוֹ” mean—Yisro rejoiced? (18:9)

A:

  • Peshat: He rejoiced.
  • Midrash: His flesh became gooseflesh, because he was distressed over Egypt’s downfall.
    Rashi adds: one should not shame a non‑Jew before a convert—even ten generations later.

 

Q14: Why does Yisro say “now I know that God is greater than all gods”? (18:11)

A: Because he had personally experienced every form of idolatry.
His statement carries great weight.

 

Q15: What does “the very thing they plotted came upon them” mean? (18:11)

A:

  • Egypt planned to destroy Israel with water,
  • therefore God destroyed them with water.

Midrash: like cooking someone in the same pot they prepared for others.

 

Q16: Why is Moshe missing when the elders and Aaron join Yisro’s feast? (18:12)

A: Moshe was serving them—acting as their attendant.

 

Q17: What does “before God” teach? (18:12)

A: A meal with Torah scholars is considered as if one is enjoying the Divine Presence.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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