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Document Details :

Title: Redefining התלאה
Subtitle: An Assurance of Israel’s Return to the Land in Jethro’s Covenant
Author(s): LERNER, Phillip
Journal: Biblica
Volume: 87    Issue: 3   Date: 2006   
Pages: 402-411
DOI: 10.2143/BIB.87.3.3189056

Abstract :
Though it is recognized that Exod 18,1-12 contains treaty making elements, there seems to be very little evidence of the nature of this treaty. The term התלאה is reexamined and redefined as 'the suffering that is encountered due to the helpless nature of being forsaken'. The phrase כל התלאה אשר מצאתנו, found in Exod 18,8, is demonstrated to be a technical phrase with certain common characteristics that is used as surety that Israel will be fully restored to their land. In addition to providing more details of Jethro’s covenant, this phrase, in combination with several other terms in Exod 18,1-12, narrows the possibilities regarding the covenant’s nature and function.

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