Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, sheik of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel when He brought Israel out of Egypt.
Vayishma Yitro chohen Midyan choten Moshe et kol-asher asah Elohim le-Moshe ule-Yisra'el amo ki-hotsi Adonay et-Yisra'el miMitsrayim.
||Jethro brought along Moses' wife, Tzipporah, who had been sent home earlier,
Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe et-Tsiporah eshet Moshe achar shilucheyha.
See notes on Exodus 2:18, 3:1. According to some authorities, Jethro was Moses' brother-in-law (Ibn Ezra on Numbers 10:29).
There is a question as to whether or not the Torah is in chronological order here. According to some, Jethro came before the giving of the Ten Commandments, while according to others, he came afterward (Zevachim 116a; Ramban).
Actually, 'Jethro, father-in-law of Moses.' The same is true in Exodus 18:5 and 18:12, but for the sake of simplicity, it is abbreviated.
See Exodus 2:21.
|sent home earlier|
At Aaron's advice (Mekhilta; Rashi), soon after the episode of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25).