Did Jethro convert? And, was it before or after the Torah was given? I heard a few things this past shabbat, but I would like to see if we can compile all of the midrashic and aggadic opinions.
asked Feb 12, 2012 at 18:00
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Related: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/13979– msh210 ♦Commented Feb 12, 2012 at 18:10
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2This question would be improved if you would add to it whatever you know about the topic, on which you're basing your question. (For example, any reasons you have for thinking he converted (and when) or didn't.)– msh210 ♦Commented Feb 12, 2012 at 18:22
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1 Answer
Per Rashi he converted.
According to the Even Ezra he converted after Matan Torah. The Ramban and Abarbanel say prior to Matan Torah. The Ramban says that he returned home afterwards to convert his family.
answered Feb 12, 2012 at 19:42
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2I don't see any of these meforshim saying whether or not Yisro converted at all. They are merely discussing when Yisro came to visit Moshe.– jakeCommented Feb 13, 2012 at 0:46
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True that Rashi (quoting Sifri) believes Yisro converted. But can you please point to where Ibn Ezra, Ramban and Abarbanel say that he did?– jakeCommented Feb 13, 2012 at 20:51
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1Thank you for that Ramban. It does very much imply that Yisro converted, although he doesn't seem to specify that it was prior to Matan Torah as you claim. Ibn Ezra, though, I cannot find where he says anything on the subject. Re Abarbanel: I found his explicit statement that Yisro converted in Parshas B'haalos'cha here, although he seems to imply that it was after Matan Torah.– jakeCommented Feb 13, 2012 at 21:36
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1Also, I disagree that the burden of proof is necessarily on the position that Yisro did not convert. If anything, the opposite is true, for he left the Jews in the desert to return to his own homeland instead of joining them into E"Y, which seems like a preposterous act if he was indeed Jewish.– jakeCommented Feb 13, 2012 at 21:36