יוֹדִ֣יעַ דְּרָכָ֣יו לְמֹשֶׁ֑ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֲלִילֽוֹתָיו׃
Il fit connaître ses voies à Moïse, aux enfants d’Israël, ses hauts faits.
Devarim Rabbah
Another matter, had another rebuked them, they would have said: ‘This is the one rebuking us?’ Moses, in whose regard it is written: “I did not take even a single donkey from them” (Numbers 16:15), that is the one appropriate to rebuke Israel.
Another matter, if another would have said: “[Yitro said…] Now I know that the Lord is greater [than all the gods]” (Exodus 18:10–11), they would have said: ‘This is the one saying “now I know”?’ But Yitro, who knew, who circulated among all the houses of idol worship in the world and did not find any substance in them, and then came to convert, that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “Now I know.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “Vanity of vanities, [all is vanity]” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), they would say: ‘This one does not have a peruta [to buy food] to eat, and he says “vanity of vanities”?’ But Solomon, in whose regard it is written: “The king caused silver to be in Jerusalem like stones” (I Kings 10:27), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “Vanity of vanities.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “He made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), they would say: ‘This one did not eat anything in all his days, and he says: “He made everything beautiful in its time”?’10He has never had a good meal or enjoyed the pleasures of life, so how can he said “He made everything beautiful in its time”? But in regard of Solomon, it is written: “These officials provisioned King Solomon…they did not leave anything lacking” (I Kings 5:7); what is “they did not leave anything lacking”? Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: They would bring him beets in the summer and cucumbers in the rainy season;11These vegetables do not grow in the Land of Israel during those respective seasons, and therefore they had to be imported from other locations. that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “He made everything beautiful in its time.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing” (Daniel 4:32), they would say: ‘This one never ruled over two flies in all his days, and he says: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing”?’ But Nebuchadnezzar, in whose regard it is written: “And everywhere the sons of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens dwell, He has given into your hand and set your rule over all of them” (Daniel 2:38), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “The Rock, His actions are perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4), they would say: ‘This one does not know the about the essence of the attribute of justice, and he says: “The Rock, His actions are perfect”?’ But Moses, in whose regard it is written: “He informed Moses of His ways” (Psalms 103:7), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “The Rock, His actions are perfect.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “[Yitro said…] Now I know that the Lord is greater [than all the gods]” (Exodus 18:10–11), they would have said: ‘This is the one saying “now I know”?’ But Yitro, who knew, who circulated among all the houses of idol worship in the world and did not find any substance in them, and then came to convert, that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “Now I know.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “Vanity of vanities, [all is vanity]” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), they would say: ‘This one does not have a peruta [to buy food] to eat, and he says “vanity of vanities”?’ But Solomon, in whose regard it is written: “The king caused silver to be in Jerusalem like stones” (I Kings 10:27), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “Vanity of vanities.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “He made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), they would say: ‘This one did not eat anything in all his days, and he says: “He made everything beautiful in its time”?’10He has never had a good meal or enjoyed the pleasures of life, so how can he said “He made everything beautiful in its time”? But in regard of Solomon, it is written: “These officials provisioned King Solomon…they did not leave anything lacking” (I Kings 5:7); what is “they did not leave anything lacking”? Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: They would bring him beets in the summer and cucumbers in the rainy season;11These vegetables do not grow in the Land of Israel during those respective seasons, and therefore they had to be imported from other locations. that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “He made everything beautiful in its time.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing” (Daniel 4:32), they would say: ‘This one never ruled over two flies in all his days, and he says: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing”?’ But Nebuchadnezzar, in whose regard it is written: “And everywhere the sons of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens dwell, He has given into your hand and set your rule over all of them” (Daniel 2:38), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing.”
Another matter, if another would have said: “The Rock, His actions are perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4), they would say: ‘This one does not know the about the essence of the attribute of justice, and he says: “The Rock, His actions are perfect”?’ But Moses, in whose regard it is written: “He informed Moses of His ways” (Psalms 103:7), that is the one for whom it was appropriate to say: “The Rock, His actions are perfect.”
Shemot Rabbah
“Moses was herding the flock of his father-in-law Yitro, the priest of Midyan, and he led the flock into the wilderness, and he arrived at the mountain of God, to Ḥorev” (Exodus 3:1).
“Moses was” – that is what is written: “He makes known to Moses His ways, His deeds [alilotav] to the children of Israel” (Psalms 103:7). The attributes and deeds of flesh and blood are distorted, as it is stated: “He pressed false charges against her” (Deuteronomy 22:14). However, the attributes and deeds of the Holy One blessed be He are merciful, as it is stated: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious” (Psalms 103:8). He made known to Moses those attributes at the moment that he [Moses] said to Him: “Please make known to me Your ways” (Exodus 33:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” (Exodus 33:19). That is, “the Lord is compassionate and gracious.”
“He makes known to Moses His ways…” – He made known to Moses the path to the culmination [the redemption], as it is stated: “Moses was herding.1God informed Moses of the path to the culmination of the Egyptian exile when He appeared to him as he was herding the flock.” “…His deeds [alilotav] to the children of Israel” – He performed His deeds in Egypt so that Israel would relate the deeds that the Holy One blessed be He did to Egypt. That is what is written: “So that you relate in the ears of your sons […what I wrought [hitallalti] upon Egypt]” (Exodus 10:2). “Compassionate” – He had compassion on Israel and the plagues did not touch them. “And gracious” – that they found grace in the eyes of Egypt. “Forbearing” (Psalms 103:8) – He was forbearing with them, as He tilts the scales in favor of kindness, and He looked to the good and not to the evil that they were destined to perform.
“Moses was” – that is what is written: “He makes known to Moses His ways, His deeds [alilotav] to the children of Israel” (Psalms 103:7). The attributes and deeds of flesh and blood are distorted, as it is stated: “He pressed false charges against her” (Deuteronomy 22:14). However, the attributes and deeds of the Holy One blessed be He are merciful, as it is stated: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious” (Psalms 103:8). He made known to Moses those attributes at the moment that he [Moses] said to Him: “Please make known to me Your ways” (Exodus 33:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” (Exodus 33:19). That is, “the Lord is compassionate and gracious.”
“He makes known to Moses His ways…” – He made known to Moses the path to the culmination [the redemption], as it is stated: “Moses was herding.1God informed Moses of the path to the culmination of the Egyptian exile when He appeared to him as he was herding the flock.” “…His deeds [alilotav] to the children of Israel” – He performed His deeds in Egypt so that Israel would relate the deeds that the Holy One blessed be He did to Egypt. That is what is written: “So that you relate in the ears of your sons […what I wrought [hitallalti] upon Egypt]” (Exodus 10:2). “Compassionate” – He had compassion on Israel and the plagues did not touch them. “And gracious” – that they found grace in the eyes of Egypt. “Forbearing” (Psalms 103:8) – He was forbearing with them, as He tilts the scales in favor of kindness, and He looked to the good and not to the evil that they were destined to perform.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Exod. 18:1:) NOW JETHRO PRIEST OF MIDIAN, <…>, HEARD. He was a priest for idolatry.17Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Amaleq, 3. (Exod. 18:9:) AND JETHRO REJOICED (rt.: YHD), in that he professed (YHD) the name of the Holy One. Another interpretation (of Exod. 18:9:) AND JETHRO REJOICED (rt.: YHD). <It was> that he became a Jew (rt.: YHD). (Vs. 10:) SO JETHRO SAID: BLESSED BE THE LORD. Jethro said: I did not leave a deity alone without serving him, but I have found no deity like the God of Israel. (Vs. 11:) NOW I KNOW THE LORD IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS. Four children of Adam said four things. If someone else had said them, they would have laughed at them.18Eccl. R. 3:11:1. And who were they? Moses, Jethro, Solomon, and Nebuchadnezzar. Moses said (in Deut 32:4): THE ROCK!—HIS WORK IS PERFECT, [BECAUSE ALL HIS WAYS ARE JUSTICE]. [If someone else had said it, they would have laughed at him, saying: From where does this one know the ways of the Holy One? However,] because it is written (in Ps. 103:7): HE MADE HIS WAYS KNOWN TO MOSES, it is therefore stated (in Deut. 32:4): THE ROCK!—HIS WORK IS PERFECT, BECAUSE ALL HIS WAYS ARE JUSTICE. Then Solomon said (in Eccl. 3:11): HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. If someone else had said it, they would have laughed at him, saying: Who has made known to this one what is beautiful and what is not beautiful? But, <in the case of> Solomon, whose table lacked nothing, he knew what was beautiful. R. Jose bar Hanina said: Solomon's table did not even lack bitter herbs19Tanh., Exod. 5:7, and Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34 read “ice” here. of Tammuz nor melopepones {i.e., radish and lettuce}20The Greek word means “melons.” of Tishri. Nebuchadnezzar said (in Dan. 4:32 [35]): ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH ARE OF NO ACCOUNT. If another had said it, they would have laughed at him: Over what does this man rule? He does not even rule over a gnat. But in the case of Nebuchadnezzar it was fitting for him to say so, since it is stated concerning him (in Dan. 2:38): AND [INTO YOUR HAND HE HAS GIVEN] THE CHILDREN OF ADAM, [THE WILD BEASTS OF THE FIELD, AND THE FOWL OF HEAVEN,] WHEREVER THEY MAY DWELL; [AND HE HAS HAD YOU RULE OVER ALL OF THEM]. Jethro said (in Exod. 18:11): NOW I KNOW THE LORD IS GREATER THAN ALL GODS, because among all his gods he did not see one as great as the Lord. (Ibid., cont.:) YES, BY THE THING WHICH <THE EGYPTIANS> PLOTTED AGAINST THEM.21PRK 11:5. R. Eleazar said: By that with which the Egyptians intended to destroy Israel, <i.e.,> by water, by that they were destroyed. So they were drowned in the midst of the sea.