Jethro
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- For the English comedian, see Jethro (comedian)
Jethro (Hebrew: יִתְרוֹ, Standard Yitro Tiberian Yiṯrô; "His Excellence/Posterity") is a figure from the Hebrew Bible. What we know concerning Jethro is recorded in the Book of Exodus. Jethro is also identified with Shoaib, one of the prophets in the Qur'an. He is also revered as a prophet in his own right in the Druze religion.
Jethro, also known as Reuel, is called a priest of Midian and became father-in-law of Moses. He is recorded as living in Midian, a territory stretching from east of the Dead Sea south onto the Sinai.
Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, became Moses's wife after Moses had fled Egypt, having killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Moses is said to have worked as a shepherd for Jethro for 40 years before returning to Egypt to lead the Hebrews to Canaan, the "promised land".
As mentioned above, Jethro is also considered by many to be synonymous with the Qur'ānic prophet Shuˤayb. For some reason this particular figure's history is convoluted in Muslim sources as compared to that of Judaeo-Christian. Possible reasons for this might be found at Sabians, Midian. Prophet Shoaib “Jethro” Mosque and Tomb is located near the Jordanian city of Mahis .
Yitro is the name of one of the 54 weekly Torah readings or Parshiot (Exodus 18:1-20:23). In it, Jethro advises Moses to establish a system of courts to relieve Moses of the crushing burden of judging all disputes. The portion also contains the Ten Commandments.
