{"id":90254,"date":"2025-04-02T06:45:29","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T10:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=90254"},"modified":"2025-03-31T12:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T16:52:09","slug":"who-is-jethro-priest-of-midian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/people-cultures-in-the-bible\/people-in-the-bible\/who-is-jethro-priest-of-midian\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is Jethro, Priest of Midian?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jethro<\/a>

Jethro and Moses (c. 1900), by James Tissot. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The Bible introduces Jethro, who is also called Reuel, as a non-Israelite, a priest of Midian, and the father of seven daughters who are shepherdesses (Exodus 2:16\u201318).\u00a0i\u00a0<\/a><\/sup> Moses marries one of them, Zipporah. Some 40 years later, Jethro figures prominently in Exodus 18 and is called therein the father-in-law of Moses<\/a>. Exodus 18 details a momentous conversation between the two leaders that quickly establishes the civil, judicial framework for the new Israelite community.<\/p>\n

Although Moses and the Lord lead a host of characters in Exodus<\/a>, Jethro dominates Exodus 18. Set in the wilderness, the chapter serves as a pivot between the book\u2019s two major themes: God\u2019s deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt (Exodus 1\u201317), and God\u2019s giving of the law to Israel (Exodus 20\u201340). Sandwiched between the Israelites\u2019 victory over the Amalekites and their journey to Mt. Sinai to receive the law (Exodus 17, 19), Exodus 18 highlights Jethro\u2019s visit to the camp and his wise counsel.<\/p>\n

Setting the Scene in Midian<\/h4>\n

According to the Book of Exodus, once Moses<\/a> realized that Pharaoh knew he had killed an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15), he fled for his life. The Hebrew Bible remains silent on his escape but pauses on where he rested, Midian; scholars speculate that Midian was a rectangular strip of land along the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba\/Eilat in what is now the northwestern boundary of Saudi Arabia.
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\"\"<\/a>

Courtesy Biblical Archaeology Society<\/em><\/p><\/div>
\nHe sat by a well. Seven shepherdesses came and began drawing water for their flock. When other shepherds sought to drive them away, Moses rose and singlehandedly routed the harassers. What a hero! He then drew water for the flock (Exodus 2:16\u201317). The shepherdesses hurried home and excitedly told their father Reuel about \u201cthe Egyptian.\u201d Reuel asked his whereabouts, said he wanted to eat with him, and sent the girls back to fetch him (Exodus 2:18\u201320).<\/p>\n

The two men evidently liked what they saw in each other. They seemed to be cut from the same cloth of courtesy, honor, and strength. Although the Bible does not record their conversation, perhaps they discovered that they shared a common ancestor. Moses came from the line of Abraham and Sarah, and Jethro from the line of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1\u20134).<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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