• Yitro joins Israel (18:1-12)
  • Yitro brings Moshe’s wife and sons to him
  • Moshe goes out to meet him
  • Yitro rejoices over all Gd has done for Israel and states his belief in Him over all over gods
  • Yitro makes an ascent offer and meal offerings; Aharon and the elder come to eat with Yitro before Gd.

• Yitro’s advice on appointing judges (18:13-27)
  • Yitro sees the people come to Moshe to judge their cases
  • He advises that the burden is too great and that there needs to be sharing of authority
  • Judges being worthy men
  • Judges of thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens.
  • Yitro leaves to return to his homeland.

• Preparations for Matan Torah (Giving of the Torah) (19:1-15)
  • On the third New Moon Israel departs from Refidim and comes to Sinai.
  • Moshe goes up the mountain to receive instruction
  • “You are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
  • Moshe summons the elders to pass on the instructions, which they agree to do.
  • The people are told to prepare for three days
  • No one is to ascend the mountain or even touch it.

• Matan Torah (19:16-25)
  • Thunder, lightning and a thick cloud come upon the mountain.
  • Moshe leads the people to the mountain, which is smoking
  • Gd calls Moshe to ascend the mountain to warn him again that the people are not to go up
  • He sends Moshe down to get Aharon, but the priests and the rest of the people are not allowed to go up

• The Ten Commandments (20:1-14)

  1} I am the Lrd your Gd	6} You shall not murder
  2} You shall have no other gods	7} You shall not commit adultery
  3} Do not take the Name of Gd in vain	8} You shall not steal
  4} Remember Shabbat to keep it holy	9} You shall not bear false witness
  5} Honor your father and mother	10} You shall not covet

• Other commandments (20:15-23)
  • The people saw the sounds and the flames
  • Moshe tells them not to be afraid, but they are
  • They tell Moshe to hear from Gd and relay the messages to them
  • Gd instructs them on making

Contact:
Miriam Ben-Yaacov