A short Insight into SHOFTIM, Chapter 1 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

Chazal teach us that Yisro, Bilam, and Iyov were the three advisers of Paroh. When Paroh wanted to come up with a strategy how to deal with the Jews, he turned to his advisers. Yisro was the only adviser to object to a plan which would deal harshly with B'nei Yisroel. As a result, Paroh wanted to kill Yisro. Thus, Yisro fled. As a reward for his righteous and selfless advice to Paroh, Yisro merited to have descendants who would likewise give counsel – this time as members of the Sanhedrin. Where do we find the descendants of Yisro begin to have connections with the Torah scholars of B'nei Yisroel? Rashi tells us that we can see the sprouting of the fruits of Yisro's righteousness in verse sixteen in our chapter. The verse begins, “The Children of the Kenite, Moshe's father-in-law, ascended from the City of Date Palms with the children of Yehuda that is south of Arad; they went and settled with the people.”