A priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses.
About Jethro
The father-in-law of Moses. Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, became Moses's wife while Moses was hiding as a fugutive in the wilderness (Exodus 2:21). When Moses left for Egypt, he took Zipporah and his sons with him, but later sent them back (4:20). Jethro brought them to Moses after the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai (Exodus 18:1–7). Through this family connection with Moses, Jethro became involved with the Israelite people.
Scholars have understood Jethro's relationship with Israel in different ways. Jethro was a priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16; 3:1). We do not know for certain what religion the Midianites followed. The Kenites were a tribe within the Midianite nation (Judges 1:16). Some scholars have suggested that the Kenites had a tribal god named Yahweh whom Jethro served as priest. Scholars who have suggested that Moses introduced Jethro's tribal god, Yahweh, to Israel have not been able to prove this idea. The evidence in the Bible does not support this view.
Family Relationships
Key References
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”
All Scripture References (11)
Exodus (10)
When the daughters returned to their father Reuel, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.
Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.
After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the desert, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.
He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”
And Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done for Israel, whom He had rescued from the hand of the Egyptians.
Jethro declared, “Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians.
Then Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God.
Numbers (1)
Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”