138 JUDAISM AND
Abulfeda l relates just this one thing about Shu'aib, viz., that he was the father-in-law of Moses, without giving any other opinion. Though his name is not mentioned in this connection in the Qurn, other events independent of Moses' life are related of him, particularly his admonition of the Midianites, which is said by the Eabbis to have been the cause of the hatred of that people towards him. 2 Muhammad took up the admonition without mentioning the consequence which it entailed on Jethro, viz., the driving away of his daughters, which was just the circumstance which led to Jethro's connection with the life of Moses. According to Muhammad an immediate punishment fell on the Midianites. 3 The Eabbis have the following on the subject: 4 "The priest of Midian had seven daughters. 5 G-od hates idolatry and did He give Moses a refuge with an idolater ? Concerning this our teachers tell us : Jethro was priest of the idols, but knew their worthlessness, despised
1 Hist. Anteislamica, page 30. 2 Exodus, ii. VJ.
3 gfaas VII. 83-92, XI. 85-98, XXII. 48, XXV. 40, XXVI. 176-92, XXIX. 35-6, XXXVIII. 12, L. 12-3.
- Midr. Rabb. on Exodus, para. 1.
rrvr (Tibs. Na.i& 'n'
-aa ateo na ?$$ nsn 1 ] '\ 'sb n;n dnb
bbn &nb 7^1 T '5 .
1 ! nDsb? ib na^; ribi DIM ib p^p. rtba? hatte n ib n'i3nb
5 Exodus, ii. 16,
