Who arranged the Se'udah?
Rashi (in Shmuel 1, 15:6): It was Yisro who arranged the Se'udah for Moshe, Aharon and the elders (presumably in honor of his conversion). 1
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 18:7:4:1.
Why does the Torah write "Vayikach Yisro Olah u'Zevacnhim" and not "Vayizbach Yisro ... "?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because sprinkling the blood of the Korban (Hartza'as Damim) is part of the conversion ceremony. Consequently, he was not permitted to Shecht his Korban himself, He could only bring the Korban to be Shechted and a Yisrael had to Shecht it on his behalf.
What was the purpose of the Se'udah that Aharon and the elders of Yisrael made with Yisro?
Seforno and Ramban: He brought Korbanos in honor of his accepting upon himself the yoke of Malchus Shamayim (his conversion), 1 and they came to join him to rejoice with him, 2
Like Na'aman did. See Melachim 2, 5:17 (Seforno).
As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim 149:20 (Seforno). He did so on the day of his 'Chasunah', since he was the Chasan Damim (Ramban).
Aharon and the Zekeinim also accompanied Moshe MOshe when he went out to greet Yisro (as Rashi explaine in Pasuk 7). Why did the Torah not mention them there, and why does it mention them here?
Oznayim la'Torah: When Aharon and the Zekeinim went to greet Yisro, bearing in mind that they had never seen Yisro, they went out purely in honor of Moshe - as Rashi eplained there. Now however, having met Yisro, they came to celebrate his Se'udas B'ris (not in honor of Moshe but) in his honor, 1
Oznayim la'Torah: Perhapd the Torah does not mention Moshe here to emphasizee it.
When did they arrange the Se'udah?
Ramban #1: As soon as he arrived, before they even arrived at Sinai. 1
Ramban #2: Only much later, after he had settled down, and after he converted with Milah, Tevilah and bringing a Korban. 2
Moshav Zekenim: It was not before Matan Torah, for Moshe was constantly going up and down Har Sinai. Rather, it was on Yom Kipur! 3
Da'as Zekenim (13), Hadar Zekenim (13): It was two or three days from when he descended from Har Sinai (on Yom Kipur). The Torah is out of order.
Refer to 18:1:7:1**.
And the Torah mentions it here as part of the story of Yisro's joining Yisrael (Ramban).
Da'as Zekenim, Hadar Zekenim: This cannot be, for Moshe ate with him, and it was after Matan Torah (he was obligated to fast! Moshav Zekenim assumes that the Torah is in order here - this was after Yisrael came to Har Sinai, and before Moshe judged them the day after Yom Kipur. - PF)
Where was Moshe - who went out to meet him and caused him all this Kavod?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: Moshe was serving the guests.
Rashbam: Seeing as Moshe was the host, it is obvious that he was there, and it is not therefore necessary to mention him by name.
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 18:12:1.1:1*.
What are the connotations of "Lifnei ha'Elokim"?
Rashi: It means 'in front of Hashem' - to teach us that if someone who partakes of a Se'udah at which Talmidei-Chachamim are sitting, it is as if he had benefited from the glory of the Shechinah. 1
Oznayim la'Torah: It means 'in front of Beis-Din', before whom Yisro had just converted.
B'rachos, 64a: Seeing as it was not before Hashem that they were eating but before Moshe.
Either the Mizbe'ach which Moshe built (in Refidim) after Yisrael defeated Amalek or which he built now in honor of the occasion (Seforno).
Which had the status of 'within the hangings of the Azarah' (after the Mishkan was built [Seforno]).
From where did Yisro obtain animals for Korbanos? It does not say that he brought animals!
Moshav Zekenim: He purchased them.
From where was the bread for the meal?
Moshav Zekenim: It was normal bread. Man was only for Yisrael, who were afflicted. Yisro brought bread; he was rich, and would not leave without bread. The others ate with him to honor him. 1 Also, they desired to eat bread. 2
Oznayim la'Torah #1 (On Pasuk 8): Refer to 16:8:4:1.
Oznayim la'Torah #2: Everyone brought their own Man, part of which they gave Yisro. 3
Oznayim la'Torah #3: "Le'echol Lechem" refers (not to bread, but) to the meal 4 , which consisted of the Korbanos mentioned in the Pasuk.
Oznayim la'Torah (citing B'rachos 64a): And they partook of the bread that he brought with him.
Why would Kedoshim like Moshe and Aharon desire to eat bread? This is fine if we will say that there was no Torah Mitzvah of Birkas ha'Mazon on Manma (see Daf Al ha'Daf Brachos 48b citing ha'Gaon Rav Y.S. Elyashiv Ztz"l - PF). 3: 3
Based on Midrashim, that if someone arrived too late to collect his portion of Man, others would give him some of their own allotted portion which, they subsequently discovered, had not decreased.
Oznayim la'Torah: Since every meal is called 'Lechem'. See Rashi Vayeira, Bereishis, 18:5.
