Here's why:
* Geographical Location: Midian was located in the Arabian Peninsula, a region where Semitic languages were dominant.
* Cultural Ties: The Midianites were closely related to the Israelites in terms of culture, religion, and lineage.
* Linguistic Similarities: The Hebrew language shares significant similarities with other Semitic languages, including Arabic and Aramaic.
While we can't be certain, it's reasonable to assume that Jethro spoke a Semitic language, possibly a dialect of Arabic or a language closely related to Hebrew.