Yitro - Jethro: ( Remember This)
Yitro - Jethro: ( Remember This)
Yitro - Jethro: ( Remember This)
This week’s Torah Portion Yithro (“Jethro”) comes from Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 and is a
section of Scripture that acts as the written foundation of our relationship with YHVH! It is
here that we read of Israel’s encounter at Mt. Sinai as they are given the Ketubah (wedding
contract) that still today tells us our responsibilities as the Bride. The two tablets upon
which the Ten Commandments are written become a stone representation of Messiah and
His Bride! As we look into this tonight, we will see how this event affected the nation of
Israel, how we live up to it today, the reason an entire generation died off in the wilderness,
and finally the shadow picture and the warning it is for us today as end time believers!
It is interesting to note before we get started a warning given by Yahshua concerning the
end days, Matthew 24:16 – “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains”. A
pair of the most significant mountains that YHVH uses throughout the Scriptures is Mt.
Sinai and Mt. Horeb! With this in mind let us look at what first transpired here and what
insight it may lend to us today as part of our blueprint for the days ahead.
Exodus 18:1
Jethro: Strong’s #3503 Yithro יתרוhis abundance; contains the 2 letter root תרmark of a
man – the border of the land owned by an individual, or under his control, is marked by
markers. An outline or border. (*Remember this)
From #3499 yether יתרremainder, excess, rest, remnant, excellence
*The first reference of the term “yether” is Genesis 49:3 in Jacob’s blessing over Reuben,
referring to the extra honor and power accorded to the firstborn. Remember that Reuben
loses the birthright because he defiles his father’s bed by sleeping with his father’s wife
Bilhah. Bilhah: Strong’s #1090 Bilhah בלההtroubled; cognate of #1087 baleh בלהworn
out, old describes the corrupt and lewd character of someone worn out by acts of
harlotry in Ezekiel 23:43 (Israel and Judah)!
Midian: Strong’s #4080 Midyan מדיןstrife; from #4066 madown מדוןstrife, contention
#4055 = ( מדmad) cloth garment, robe, tunic, to measure & וןsuffix = to diminish
*Remember that Sinai is where the wedding took place, Yahshua shared a parable
concerning the wedding, without the proper garments you get kicked out (Matthew 22)!
There is a hidden warning here for those preparing to encounter YHVH at Sinai again –
strife and contention will cause our garments to be diminished! It will lead to the same
results of Matthew 22!
The name of this portion gives us insight into who will arrive at Mt. Sinai in the days ahead
to receive their wedding Ketubah! It will be the remnant (Jethro) whom have not defiled
the marriage bed (Reuben) or corrupted themselves through acts of harlotry (Bilhah) –
those whose garments have not been diminished or altered because of strife and
contention in the camp (Midian)!
Jethro is also known as Reuel: Strong’s #7467 Re’u’el רעואלfriend of God; from #7462
ra’ah 1 )רעהto pasture, tend, graze, feed 2) to associate with, be a friend of, be companions
3) to be a special friend, a shepherd
Coming to Sinai is the same thing as coming to the Shepherd! During the
catastrophic days of the end, those who understand this blueprint are brought to the
location where they are fed, led, and cared for by the Shepherd!
Purpose of Sinai
Exodus 19:1 - 2
This takes place during the third month on the Hebrew calendar known as Sivan: Strong’s
#5510 Ciyvan סיוןtheir covering
*The name of this portion Yithro has a gemtria of 616 6+1 +6 = 13 number of the Bride,
the Bride was to receive her covering from Her Groom!
This is significant because in Exodus 20:26 we read – “Neither shalt thou go up by steps
unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”
A problem becomes presented to us because in Exodus 19:9 YHVH is described as coming
in “thick clouds”. Thick: Strong’s #5645 ‘ab עבdarkness, cloud, thicket, also an
architectural term meaning threshold or steps! But yet we can’t ascend steps if our
nakedness becomes exposed!
Within the Hebrew, it’s revealing a specific order of how the events must play out at Sinai!
The Bride must first receive her covering then she will able to ascend into the presence of
YHVH! Without this covering (kasah) it becomes an unholy union outside the confines of
the marriage contract!
This is why they camped at Rephidim before arriving at Sinai! Rephidim: Strong’s #7508
Rephidiym רפידיםrests, stays, resting place; from #7502 raphad רפדto spread In effect
the covering (kasah) of their Groom is spread (raphad) over them preparing them to walk
up the steps (‘ab) at Sinai!
Israel also finds herself in a niddah (menstrually unclean) condition as well because of their
actions in Egypt. There is a prescribed manner for her cleansing. There are some final
steps that must take place at the base of the mountain before the wedding! The exact terms
‘ervah and galah used here are also seen in Leviticus 20:18 – “And if a man shall lie with a
woman having her sickness, and shall uncover (galah) her nakedness (‘ervah); he hath
discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of
them shall be cut off from among their people”.
Exodus 19:10 – 13
Wash: Strong’s #3526 kabac כבסto wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a
fuller
*Same term is used in Psalm 51:7 – “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Remember that hyssop was used to apply the blood to the doorposts within
Egypt! Hyssop: Strong’s #231 ‘ezowb אזובhyssop, a plant used for medicinal and
religious purposes; has the 3 letter root זובzowb (#2101) a flow, issue, discharge,
menstrual blood
In preparation for this intimate encounter with their Groom, Israel had to finish their
cleansing from this niddah state – a cleansing process that started in Egypt with the hyssop
applying the blood, continued with their crossing of the Red Sea (miqveh) and now will
culminate here at Sinai as they cleanse the womb that had been mislead (accepting the
wrong seed)!
Bounds: Strong’s #1379 gabal גבלto bound, border; remember the 2 letter root of Yithro
also meant the border – this is an extremely important part of this parshah!
Exodus 19:21-24
Contains the 2 letter root גבgab (#1354) convex surface, back
Touch: Strong’s #5060 naga’ נגעto touch, reach, strike; a verb which can indicate doing
actual harm
*Same term is used in Leviticus 15:19 when a woman is niddah and your not supposed to
touch her! We’ve already seen that this is indeed the state of Israel when they first arrive at
Sinai. If they were to touch the mountain (the back of YHVH) they would make Him
unclean, harming both themselves and Him!!
Vs. 21 Gaze: Strong’s #7200 ra’ah ראהto see, look at, inspect, consider; it’s the
other term that when used with ‘ervah (nakedness) forms the euphemism for a
relationship outside the confines of the marriage contract!
This is the reason the punishment for crossing this barrier was stoning! The same
punishment is meted out for playing the harlot in Deuteronomy 22:21!
Vs. 13 – “he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man”
2 different terms are used for the word “or”, the first being #176 ‘ow the second being
#518 ‘im אםif; cognate of #517 ‘em אםmother – the womb where the seed is planted in
order to build the house! Once again ties in the fact that crossing this boundary early will
cause judgment upon the womb!
With this understanding, let us now look at when they were supposed to come up – when
the “trumpet soundeth long”. This would be the final step in this cleansing process, when
the shofar sounded it would be complete.
Trumpet: Strong’s #3104 yowbel יובלram, ram’s horn, trumpet, cornet; from #2986 yabal
יבלto bring, lead, carry, conduct, bear along, it indicates things brought by others including
a bride in marriage
At this point, at this particular blast, they would finally be ready – a bride prepared and
worthy to be taken in marriage! And at the sound of this shofar the Messiah would be
drawn forth from His dwelling place/Tabernacle!!
Exodus 19:19 – “And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and
louder, Moses spake, and YHVH answered him by a voice.”
Long: Strong’s #1980 halak הלךto go, walk, come At the blast He was indeed drawn out
and began to walk upon Sinai!
Understanding the significance of this encounter and what is about to happen, let us look at
Israel’s response! Within their response is revealed the reason a generation died off
(before the Golden Calf ever happened, before the spies ever brought back a bad report),
right here this generation seals their fate! Remember this is your future as well, heed the
warning that is being given!
Exodus 20:18 – 21
Removed: Strong’s #5128 nuwa’ נועto quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move,
sift, to cause to wander about, to be shaken
*The 1st reference of this word is Genesis 4:12 speaking of Cain – “a fugitive and a vagabond
shalt thou be in the earth”.
By removing themselves from the mountain, they joined their lot with Cain to be a fugitive
and a vagabond upon the earth! They said “yes” to their Ketubah, but it wasn’t written on
their hearts – hence the reason they wander for 40 years until the next generation was
raised up. Every incident where they rebel against YHVH stems from their refusal to draw
near right here!
*In Numbers 32:13 the term nuwa’ is used to describe this very wandering! Numbers
32:13 – “And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the
wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD,
was consumed.”
Moses alone draws near to the thick darkness: Strong’s #6205 ‘araphel ערפלcloud, heavy
or dark cloud, darkness, gross darkness, thick darkness
Contains the term #6203 ‘oreph ערפthe neck, then add the Lamed on the end ל
meaning the shepherd the neck of the shepherd! He comes and leans on the neck
of the Shepherd while the rest stay back!
Afar off: Strong’s #7350 rachowq רחוקremote, far, distant, to be removed, go far away
Contains the 2 letter root חקchoq (Strong’s #2706) statute, ordinance, limit,
something prescribed, due; attach at the beginning the letter Reysh רmeaning the
back of the head they turned their back upon the statutes of YHVH when they
chose to remove themselves from His presence!
These same choices are beginning to be presented to us today and will continue and
culminate again at Sinai! How we choose to respond to His drawing will determine
whether or not you survive the wilderness. This generation here chose to go the way of
Cain and have the face of YHVH hid from them! When the same choice is presented again it
will only be those who draw near and have allowed the cleansing process to take place
within their hearts that will make the right decision!!
In closing, it is interesting to note that this took place within the month of Sivan which is
assigned the constellational sign of Gemini. Gemini is commonly called “the twins” yet the
true picture put within the heavens was that of a husband and wife! This was the entire
purpose of Sinai!
Gemini was originally known by the Hebrew name Thaumin – The United. The
Hebrew, Arabic, and Syriac names carry a connotation of completion, the completion
of a year, or the completion of a long betrothal, the consummation or completing of
a thing long-awaited.