And Yitro rejoiced for all the goodness that the L-rd had done to Israel, that He delivered him out the hand of the Egyptians (Ex. 18:9)
What is meant by "that he delivered him from the hand of the Egyptians"? Shouldn't the Torah have used the word "them," meaning the Jewish people, rather than "him"? Yitro had served as one of Pharaoh's chief advisors, and now realized that he should have perished along with the rest of the Egyptians. Thus, he was grateful to G-d for not only saving him physically, but for giving him the idea to convert to Judaism. (Be'er Mayim Chaim)
Then you shall be My own treasure (segula) from among all the peoples (Ex. 19:5)
The Hebrew word "segula" means a characteristic or trait, i.e., something that does not depend on logic but is simply a "given" of nature. Similarly, G-d's love for the Jewish people has no rational basis, and exists solely because such was His will to choose them. (Kadmonim)
Reprinted from the Parshat Yitro 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim Weekly.
