Priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses. When Moses fled for his life from Egypt, he stopped in Midian and assisted Jethro's daughters in getting water for their flock. Moses became the shepherd of Jethro and married Zipporah, one of Jethro's daughters.
Jethro's name is variously given as Reuel (Ex. 2:15–22) and Hobab (Num. 10:29). But in Exodus 18 and most other places it is given as Jethro. The name variation is probably due to different traditions, though the rabbis connect the meaning of all the names by suggesting that they indicate the different qualities of the man.
Jethro went to the encamped Israelites in the wilderness and brought with him Zipporah and her children, who had been left behind in Midian before the Exodus. He gave Moses sound advice on the best way to administer the tasks of judge-leader through the system of decentralization (Ex. 18:13–27). In the rabbinic tradition Jethro gave up his priesthood, and with few exceptions he is upheld as a good and genuine friend of Israel, who may have remained with them as a guide throughout their wanderings in the wilderness.
In the Druze tradition Jethro is a prophet, and his legendary burial site near Tiberias in Galilee is still the site of veneration and pilgrimage.
