VOLUME 119 NUMBER 5
Shevat 19, 5786
February 6, 2026
Parshas Yisro
Candlelighting Time 5:08
Moshe had two sons Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom was named for Moshe’s seclusion when he was a stranger in a foreign land, Midian. The name Eliezer alluded to Moshe’s miraculous escape from Pharoah’s executioner. Even though he was slated to die Hashem protected him and he was able to get away to Midian. Rav Shlomo Kluger notices a subtle difference in the language between the two namings. In reference to Gershom, Moshe states that he chose that name because ‘he said’ that he was a stranger. However, when he selects the name Eliezer Moshe did not state that he said he was saved from the sword of Pharoah. A very subtle but interesting nuance. Furthermore, chronologically, the episode with Pharoah occurred before he ran away to Midian so why was Gershom named first since he had not yet arrived there.
Rav Kluger explains the naming of Eliezer in a totally different vogue. Certainly, Pharoah assumed and correctly so that Moshe was the instigator behind the freedom insurrection that captured the attention of the nation in Egypt. Although the people had successfully escaped from Egypt and were prepared to cross the sea Pharoah thought if he could eliminate Moshe then he could return the entire nation back into slavery and his bondage. Of course, such a plan was beyond irrational. His entire kingdom had been destroyed and even his loyal servants wanted the nation out of Egypt. Power is a controlling and prevailing mindset and Pharoah was convinced that he was still in charge of the situation. How many times in history have we witnessed such demented minds that have spiraled out of control still believing in their authoritative dominance. As Nachmonides famously wrote about the Egyptian army heading straight into the sea after having seen moments before that it had split and at any moment it could come down crashing on their heads. Hashem placed in their frenzied psyches that they could pursue us and recapture their lost slaves.
Moshe realized that Pharoah was eventually determined to assassinate him and therefore davened to Hashem to save him from his threat. Even though it may have been beyond one’s imagination that it could be carried out, nonetheless there was a concern and Moshe, in advance of this predicament, beseeched Hashem and understanding that he would be protected named his son born after Gershom, referring to a future situation, Eliezer.
The naming of Eliezer as an advanced token of gratitude to Hashem for an event that was primed to occur a year later gives us an appreciation of Moshe’s foresight. Even before the revolution began that trounced the Egyptian empire he realized what Pharaoh sought to do. Our Sages have an astonishing and thorough command of their involvement in leading the nation and that totality of acuity provides them with the appropriate faculty and proficiency to guide and lead us within the framework of their vision. Additionally, their oracular intuition gives them the impetus to thank Hashem even before we receive His Divine intervention. And that prescience is determined and reinforced based upon their faith in Hashem.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
When Moshe ascended to Heaven to receive the Torah the angels were opposed to him. They said he is only a blood and flesh being how can the Torah, a spiritual bond between Hashem and man, be given to him? They didn’t malign Moshe’s stature because Hashem had already stated how great he was. Rather their concern was that since he was involved with the nation involving people of much less prominence than he was, it would affect his eminence thereby minimizing his ability to convey the Torah to us. Hashem requested that Moshe respond to their fear. He displayed a profound understanding of Torah suggesting his enormous capacity to deal with the nation despite that they were not on his level. CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABBOS
