Why did the shepherds chase away the daughters of Yisro, who were there first?
Rashi: Because he had been placed in Cherem for denouncing all forms of idolatry. 1
Ramban: Every day, the shepherds would fill the troughs with water and water their sheep first. 2 On that day, the women arrived first and had already filled the troughs when the shepherds arrived and drove them away and stole the water in the troughs.
Refer to 2:16:2.1:1, 2:16:2.2:1, and 2:16:2.3. But Ramban differs, see 2:18:2:1.
Ramban: Even if Yisro's daughters arrived first, they would have to wait until the shepherds had finished.
Why did Moshe act differently here than he did in the two episodes cited earlier in the Parshah?
Seforno: He killed the Egyptian because he was maltreating a fellow-Jew; he rebuked the two fighting men because they were both fellow-Jews. In this case, where neither party was Jewish, he acted to put right the injustice that had been done. 1
Refer to 2:10:1:2, 2:11:3:1 and 2:13:4:1. Also refer to 2:11:2.03:1.
"Va'Yakam Moshe va'Yoshi'an...." Why does it need to say that "Moshe arose;" it could simply say that 'he saved them'?
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 20, p. 90): Chazal derive that Moshe stood up to pass judgement against the shepherds, like a judge who is aroused when he sees an injustice. This shows us the perfection of Moshe's Nefesh. 1
Maharal (Tif'eres Yisrael Ch. 11, p. 37): Moshe was moved to save them due to his trait of Yosher (uprightness); a trait by which he merited that the Torah would be given through him. Also refer to 2:11:2.03:1.
In what way did Moshe save Yisro's daughters?
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: The shepherds had cast them into the water, and Moshe lifted them out - ("va'Yoshi'an" 1 ); as the daughters later related to Yisro, "V'Gam Daloh Dalah Lanu" (2:19) (lit. he also took us out of the water).
Rosh: Refer to 2:17:152:1.
Maharal (citing Midrash Raba): Refer to 2:17:151.1:1.
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, "Hoshi'eni Elokim Ki Ba'u Mayim Ad Nafesh" (Tehilim 69:2).
The term "salvation" (Teshu'ah) is usually reserved for escape from great peril. The term 'rescue' (Hatzalah) would seem more appropriate here!
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 20, p. 90): In fact, Moshe did save them from great peril! Opinions differ in the Midrash as to whether the shepherds intended to lay with them (and the salvation was of their Nefesh); or if they had already cast them into the water (to drown, and Moshe saved their Guf). 1
Maharal (loc. cit.): But according to this interpretation, perhaps this no longer shows Moshe's sense of justice (see 2:17:2.1:1*); for if the girls were in such big trouble, certainly he would see the need to save them! Maharal answers; the chain of events leading to the Redemption did not come by chance due to Moshe's choices. The events were preordained; he had to save them.
The shepherds drove the daughters away. Why is the word "va'Yegareshum" written with a final Mem, seemingly in the masculine? Shouldn't it be "va'Yegareshun," in the feminine?
Rosh, citing his father: The shepherds sealed the troughs of water with mud, and the suffix "um" refers to the water. However, the water rose for Moshe because he descended from Yaakov. Since the shepherds could not block the water, they chased the daughters away; and Moshe saved them like a warrior.
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 19, p. 87): This implies that the shepherds did not harass them simply as men taking advantage of defenseless women, but rather because of the Cherem upon their family. 1
It seems that this is Rashi's intent as well.
