Yisro Breaking the Nations
במדרש רעך ורע אביך א"ת כו'.
“In the Midrash: ‘Your friend and the friend of your father do not abandon,’ etc.”
The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which interprets this verse as referring to the spiritual bond between Israel and the patriarchs, a connection that should never be abandoned.
כי אם הי' בכחן של בנ"י להתמשך לגמרי אחר מעשה האבות הראשונים אשר כל מעשיהם היו בדביקות עליון עד שהאבות הן הן המרכבה.
“For if the Children of Israel had possessed the strength to follow completely after the deeds of the first Patriarchs—whose every action was with supreme cleaving, to the point that the Patriarchs themselves were the chariot—”
If Israel could have fully continued the spiritual path of the Patriarchs, who lived in total attachment to the Divine and embodied the Divine presence, they would have sustained that elevated state.
ובנ"י היו מוכנים לזה אחר יצ"מ וקי"ס.
“And Israel were prepared for this after the Exodus from Egypt and the splitting of the Sea.”
After the miraculous redemption and revelation, the nation reached a spiritual readiness comparable to that of the Patriarchs.
והי' ניתקן כל העולם כמ"ש שמעו עמים ירגזון.
“And the entire world would have been rectified, as it is written: ‘Nations heard and trembled.’”
This elevated state would have brought a global spiritual awakening and rectification, as Scripture describes the awe of the nations.
אך ע"י החטא שכ' ברפידים שרפו ידיהם וניטל מהם אותו הדביקות.
“But through the sin mentioned at Rephidim—where they weakened their hands—their cleaving was taken from them.”
The lapse in faith at Rephidim caused their spiritual state to diminish; they lost that heightened level of attachment to God.
ואז אם עזבת תן דעתך כו' שמיד ויבא עמלק.
“And then, ‘If you abandon, beware…’—for immediately Amalek came.”
The moment their spiritual connection weakened, the force of Amalek—symbol of doubt and spiritual opposition—was able to attack.
והיו צריכין עצות איך לעמוד נגד הסתרות ע' אומות בעוה"ז.
“And they required strategies for how to stand against the concealments of the seventy nations in this world.”
Once they fell from the supernatural level, they needed guidance to contend with the spiritual obscurations represented by the nations.
מאחר שנפלו קצת מדביקות שלמעלה מהטבע כנ"ל.
“Since they had fallen somewhat from the cleaving that is above nature, as mentioned.”
The fall from the higher, miraculous spiritual state required new means of sustaining Divine connection within natural reality.
והשי"ת הזמין להם שמיעת יתרו אשר ביטל כח האומות במה שהכיר ואמר עתה ידעתי כו'.
“And the Holy One, blessed be He, provided them with the arrival of Jethro, who nullified the power of the nations by recognizing and declaring, ‘Now I know…’”
Jethro’s recognition of God weakened the spiritual influence of the nations and prepared Israel to receive the Torah.
ואיתבר ואיתכפיא.
“And it was broken and subdued.”
Through Jethro's acknowledgment, the forces of impurity were shattered and subdued.
והי' תבירא לסט"א כמ"ש בזוה"ק.
“And there was a breaking of the Other Side, as stated in the Zohar.”
The Zohar teaches that Jethro’s spiritual act brought a significant weakening of the powers opposing holiness.
לכן נאמר עליו עשית חסד עם כו' בנ"י בעלותם ממצרים כו' ע"ש:
“Therefore it is said about him: ‘You performed kindness with the Children of Israel when they came up from Egypt,’ etc.”
Jethro’s recognition of God is understood as an act of kindness toward Israel, aiding their spiritual elevation after leaving Egypt.
Summary: Israel nearly sustained the Patriarchs’ level of Divine attachment after the Exodus, which would have transformed the world. Their lapse at Rephidim caused a decline, enabling Amalek. God sent Jethro, whose recognition of the Divine broke the spiritual power of the nations and restored Israel’s path toward receiving the Torah.