To whom does "u'Vanav" refer?
Targum Yonasan: It refers to Moshe's children, as mentioned in the following Pesukim.
Mechilta: It refers to Yisro's children, who came with Yisro to convert. 1
Even though the term "v'Ishto" certainly relates to Moshe.
Why does the Torah see fit to mention the fact that Yisrael were in the desert?
Rashi: In praise of Yisro, who was living comfortably at home, yet he undertook to travel out to the desert in order to hear words of Torah.
If Yisro came before Matan Torah ? whilst Yirael were encamped in Refidim, how can the Torah write ?Vayavo Yisro ? Har ha?Elokim??
R. Bachye (in Pasuk 1): Yisro came to Refidim, which was in the desert between Eilim and Sinai, and it inserts ?Har ha?Elokim? because Har Sinai was already well-known as ?the Mountain of G-d because Yisrael left Egypt with the intention of serving Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu on it. And the Torah is informing us of the high spiritual level of Yisro, who left his homeland and his family to join Yisrael there for the sake of Hashem.
Why does the Torah refer to Har Sinai as "Har ha'Elokim," even though Hashem had not yet appeared on it?
Targum Yonasan: Because Hashem already appeared to Moshe upon it, at the episode of the burning bush.
Why must it say "u'Vanav"? It already said "Shnei Vanehah" (18:3)!
