Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Exodus 18:9/ספורנו על שמות י״ח:ט׳

אוַיִּחַדְּ יִתְרוֹ עַל כָּל הַטּוֹבָה. לֹא שָׂמַח עַל אָבְדַן מִצְרַיִם כָּרָאוּי לִמְקַנֵּא לִכְבוֹד קוֹנוֹ, כְּעִנְיַן "יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה נָקָם" (תהלים נח:יא), אֲבָל שָׂמַח עַל טוֹבָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּמְרַחֵם עַל דִּמְעַת הָעֲשׁוּקִים.
1ויחד יתרו, he did not rejoice over the destruction of Egypt as a major power. This is what he should have done if he had been truly concerned with the honour and glory due to his Creator. We know this from Psalms 58,11. However, he did rejoice over the well being of the Israelites. He behaved like someone whose heart is moved by the tears of the oppressed.