Salem Media Group. Zipporah's father was a Midianite, which means that she was a Midianite as well. During his education he learned somehow that he was a Hebrew, and his sense of concern and curiosity impelled him to visit his people. Im pretty sure it was a source of inspiration for that popular story line. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. When YHWH commissions Moses to return to Egypt and free the Israelites from bondage, Moses takes Zipporah with him, at least part of the way (Exod 4:20, 24-26). Interpretations differ on whether this Cushite woman[he] was one and the same as Zipporah, or another woman, and whether he was married to them simultaneously (which would make him a polygamist) or successively. So the answer to the question, whether or not Moses married an Ethiopian has been answered, and the answer is, Yes! Jethro helped his son-in-law by encouraging him to delegate some of his responsibilities. Numbers 12:1 is the only passage in the Old Testament where Moses' wife is identified as a "Cushite.". The midrash explains how Moses and Zipporah could have had a son who had not been circumcised. In the Biblical account, when Moses and Zipporah were on their way to Egypt, they stayed in a night encampment, where they were in mortal danger: the Lord encountered him and sought to kill him (Ex. The Israelites, too, are called Kushiim in Amos 9:7: To me, O Israelites, you are just like the Ethiopians [Kushiim], because of the difference between them and the other peoples of the earth, since they observe the commandments (Sifrei on Numbers chap. The Rabbis explain that Moses never wanted to part from Zipporah and sent her to her fathers house in Midian only for fear that the Egyptian servitude would harm her. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. Zipporah. Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Moses marries Zipporah during his time in Midian. Patterson, Dorothy. Who was Moses' wife? Zipporah, however, understood it and acted decisively to rescue Moses. Jewish Women's Archive. Rabbah 1:32). Zipporah lived a fascinating life, getting to travel great distances, and being in an inter-cultural relationship. A beautiful woman, she had received a special blessing that her comeliness would last her into old age. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, "I . Zipporahs name, meaning bird, combined with her protection of Moses, is reminiscent of the fierce loyalty to her husband Osiris of the Egyptian goddess Isis, who is often portrayed as a bird of prey. 99). The name Tharbis can not be found in the book of Exodus, but you can find it below in other scriptures. Zipporah is not well rewarded. Despite the difficulties in their relationship, Moses and Zipporah did have two children and were married for decades before he went back to Egypt. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). If youre equating marriage to sex that is not a biblical understanding. The situation remains unclear to us. Moses had married Zipporahone of the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midianwhen he fled from Egypt after slaying an Egyptian taskmaster (see Exod. One is that Satan sought to kill the uncircumcised baby, and the appellation a bridegroom [hatan] of blood was given to the child himself, who thereby become a hatan (the title given to the child who undergoes circumcision). Following their appointment, all Israel kindled lamps and engaged in celebrations, rejoicing at the elders having attained their exalted status. She is also described as a practical woman capable of taking action at the right moment. Touched by Greatness Women in the Life of Moses. How did Zipporah know that Mosess life was threatened because of the circumcision? 4:2728). Moses then left the Ethiopians after forty years of ruler-ship (Jasher 76:5-12). The underlying aim of the midrashim that recount how Zipporahs beauty was preserved in her old age is to aggrandize Moses. [4] Hobab is also the name of Jethro's son in Numbers 10:29. Women in Scripture. Thank you! While this devotion is not a bad thing, it requires extra work to make the relationship work. 17K views, 519 likes, 455 loves, 3.7K comments, 232 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Both possibilities appear in the midrashic expositions. On their way, at a night encampment, The Lord met him [Moses] and tried to kill him(Exod 4:24). The Midianites were not Ethiopians, they are actually from the lineage of Abraham who Moses is also a descendant of. Zipporah was rejoined with Moses early on the Exodus (see Exodus 2:16-22; 18:2-6). Zipporahs enigmatic statement has two possible explanations: she flings the foreskin atMosessfeet, saying, You are a bridegroom of blood to me (NRSV), or she flings it atGodsfeet, saying, You are a blood father-in-law to me.(Damimmeans blood, andhatancan mean either bridegroom or father-in-law.) Either way, her deed and words stop the attack. Thank you for an extremely interesting read. The Bloody Bridegroom: The Interpretation of Exodus 4:2426. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. There, Moses stood up for seven young women who were drawing water who were being driven away from the well by shepherds. Because of the lack of context surrounding her actions, it can be easy to ignore the lessons her life provides, but there is quite a bit to be gleaned. The Bible records, She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land (Exodus 2:22). So here we see that Moses reigned over the people of Cush. Bless you and i will keep on follow and read the Word until i understand more. The truth is, as you have seen throughout this article, is that this assumption is based off a lack of knowledge and thorough study of the scriptures. God then left Moses alone (Exodus 4:2426). Zipporah was called a Cushite, meaning at least part if not all of her heritage was from Africa. Daughter to a priest, wife of the emancipator of the Israelites from captivity and bondage in Egypt, her unique status invites many questions. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried. The Healing of Moses Leprous Arm (above) and The Return to Egypt, and Zipporah Circumcising her Son (below).Courtesy of the John Rylands Library, Manchester. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. This teaches that at some point Zipporah and her sons had been sent back to Midian, where they stayed with Jethro until he brought them to Moses in the wilderness. In Gods eyes, it does not matter whether Moses' wife was a Midianite, Cushite or whatever "race" she was. It is always good to study the Scriptures deeper and further. Answer Zipporah in the Bible was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. Because of this pledge, Moses had to return to Midian after he had been sent to Egypt, as it is said (Ex. of But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. It may refer to the African country of Cush (see Gen 10:6; 1 Chr 1:8) or to Midian, the region east of the Gulf of Aqabah from which Zipporah came (see Exod 3:1, 18:1; Hab 3:7). She heroically saves Moses and her sons from a random attack from an angel by cutting off her son's foreskin; the explanation for this act is unclear. The Lord has already spoken with many prophets, and with us as well, but we did not abstain from our spouses as Moses has done (Sifrei Zuta 12:1). Her mysterious life leaves us with more questions than answers, but it does not mean her life was not worth studying. Blessings to you and your family, Shalom! Part of why God cursed Miriam with leprosy was because Moses would not stand up to her. The common assumption made is that Zipporah was Ethiopian, some even say that there is some type of biblical error. Testamentum 43 (1993): 495518. "Why did you leave the man? Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 44 And the stick came down to Noah and was given to Shem and his descendants, until it came into the hand of Abraham the Hebrew. He did not withdraw from his wife because she aged or because she was no longer desirable in his eyes; rather, his abstinence resulted from a divine command. 99). Marriage takes hard work and clear communication from both sides: Zipporah and Moses did not always understand one another, and sometimes Moses got so caught up dealing with his responsibilities to the Hebrew people he forgot about his duties at home. Boast Not Against The Branches: Olive Tree Bible Verse Explained. When she saw that they swallowed him until the place of circumcision, she understood the danger, took a piece of flint and cut off her sons foreskin, whereupon the destructive angels relinquished their hold on Moses (BT Nedarim 32a; Ex. See e.g. She then flings the foreskin at his feet, declaring that he ishatan damimto her(Exod 4:26). Your question refers to Numbers 12:1 that states his mate was a Cushite, a term often used to refer to African nations. Cambridge, MA: 1992. 11:27) that Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp! Zipporahs reaction to this report was: Woe to their wives. Examples include the films The Ten Commandments (1956),[24] The Prince of Egypt (1998),[25] and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014). 41 And he read it and stretched forth his hand and he plucked it like a forest tree from the thicket, and the stick was in his hand. Who Was Zipporah and What Can We Learn from Her Life. You can see here that Tharbis is mentioned, not in the bible scriptures, but in the Josephus histories. Upon their return home, their father asked them, "How is it that you have come home so early today?" If the Rabbis identify the Cushite woman with Zipporah, and the word Cushite describes her positive qualities (her beauty and her deeds), what flaw did Miriam and Aaron find in her when they spoke against Moses (Num. Everything belongs to Yah. He asks him: Moses, where were you all these years? To which Moses answers: In Midian. Aaron further asks him: Who are these children and women with you? Moses replies: My wife and my sons. Aaron continued to question him: And where are you taking them? The answer: To Egypt. Aaron then tells him: We are grieving for the first ones [the Israelites who are enslaved in Egypt], and now shall we grieve for these, as well? Moses accordingly orders Zipporah: Go to your fathers house. Zipporah then departs for her fathers home, taking her two sons (Mehilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Masekhta de-Amalek, Yitro 1). Moses recognized this quality in her, as it is said (Num. Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. Another exegetical tradition places Miriam next to Zipporah when Moses was told (Num. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Exodus 12:1-3, Exodus 12:10-15. Additionally, the midrash portrays female solidarity between Zipporah and Miriam, with the latter lending an attentive ear and even trying to help her fellow woman. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. [19] It has been expressed by prominent Druze such as Amal Nasser el-Din[20] and Salman Tarif, who was a prominent Druze shaykh, that this makes the Druze related to the Jews through marriage. This Talmudic source (albeit with opposing views) highlights Zipporahs uniqueness, as the only woman in the Bible said to have performed a circumcision. Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. Countertraditions He planted the staff in the garden of his house, and no man could approach it. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Let us know. If you havent read the apocrypha (It fills the gap between Malachi and Matthew), the book of Maccabees within it will shed light on the Romans conquest over Israel. 11) with the conversation between Miriam and Aaron (chap. Unlike other women in the Old Testament, such as Sarah and Rebekah,it is difficult for us as readers centuries later to fully understand her motivations. Strangers in the land were also commanded to observe and fast on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29) and additionally adhere to all God's Commandments (Exodus 12:48 - 49). Upon hearing her father, Zipporah immediately ran after Moses like a bird (ke-zippor, i.e., with alacrity) (Ex. Here's a scripture that shows that Reuel (Jethro) Zipporah's father was a Midianite. 1 Now Moses' father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. We all become responsible for our own walk with Yah when we become adults (Philippians 2:12). Another tradition explains that the numerical value of Kushit is the same as the Hebrew yafet mareh (beautiful). Midrashic tradition assumed they were discussing Moses neglect of Zipporah. In a third tradition, the initiative to marry Zipporah came from Moses himself. [Hence, it is no longer dangerous to have him in our home.] In Hebrew, her name means "bird" or "little bird.". There's not a lot mentioned about her in the Bible; however, she's known for one major thing and it's a bit strange. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. In return for her good deed, God gave Moses permission to marry her (Exodus 18:13). Proud member Moses was aware of Zipporahs qualities and therefore took her for a wife; she adjusted to her role as wife of the leader of the people of Israel, successfully making the transition to royalty. When Jethro saw what Moses had done, he exclaimed: This one will redeem Israel from Egypt, and therefore gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer [ed. He thereupon accepted the offer, on condition she would procure the delivering up of the city; and gave her the assurance of an oath to take her to his wife; and that when he had once taken possession of the city, he would not break his oath to her. 19:15): Be ready for the third day: do not go near a woman. All Israel withdrew from their wives, and Moses withdrew from his wife. When Jethro invited Moses into his house, the latter entered the garden and saw the staff. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to her; they considered her different than other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. 4:18): Moses went back to his father-in-law Jether [yeter], from which the Rabbis learn that Moses went to Egypt, but returned to Midian to be released from (le-hatir) his vow (Ex. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Zipporah was one of them. On his journey he took Zipporah and his son Gershom, who was uncircumcised. In the book of Jasher Moses was made king after the death of the Ethiopian King Kikianus death: 34 And they wished to choose on that day a man for king from the army of Kikianus, and they found no object of their choice like Moses to reign over them. Times 106 (1995): 203205. what is biblical or not) were not Hebrews, they slaughtered the Hebrews. There are many lessons to learn from the marriage of Moses and Zipporah about leadership, communication, and how there can be unintended consequences to zealous obedience. God used her to be a mother, a partner, and preserved her memory in His Word. Many of the patriarchs had multiple wives, and we dont know the details of their relationships. Most. They will be prophets, and they will withdraw from their wives, as my husband withdrew from me. Thus Miriam learned that Moses abstained from relations with Zipporah, and she told this to Aaron (Tanhuma, Zav 13). In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. In the Bible, women are often praised when they are obedient but they sometimes disappear from the text after giving birth or getting married. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. How could I ever be as happy with a now broken family. : 247 Inspiration. According toU.S. News and World Report, removing the foreskin was mandatory among Hebrews, as God had told Abraham. It fills some gaps in the Bible narrative. Zipporahis a Midianite woman who becomes the wife of Moses. But where did it come from? Yah will give us a new heart and blissful peace (1 Corinthians 2:9). Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Zipporah is presented as the leaders wife, who suffers from the life of abstinence decreed for her husband. 12). In gratitude, Reuel (called Jethro or Hobab in other biblical passages) offers Moses hospitality, then gives him his daughter Zipporah in marriage(Exod 2:2122). 4:2426. Vetus Intercultural/interracial marriages can work and are Biblical: Zipporah and Moses came from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. New York: 2000. Other scriptures that state the sojourner, like the person born in the land, could be an active part of the sacrificial services (like the red heifer ceremony) are Numbers 15:14 - 16, 19:10 and Leviticus 17:8 - 9. Moses first Marriage was to Adoniah as previously mentioned and his second marriage was to Reuel (Jethro) the Midianites daughter Zipporah. This is the first time I have heard that Moses had an Ethiopian wife! Many people often assume that Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses because of his marriage with Zipporah: 12 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. Reuel was so grateful, he decided to receive Moses as a guest in his house and offered up his daughter Zipporah to Moses to marry. InNum 12:1Miriamand Aaron speak against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he married, but they do not mention her name. What can be understood is that Moses had not had his son circumcised eight days after his birth, neglecting his covenant responsibility as a descendent of Abraham. This is something that Ive always wondered about, because when I checked the background of Moses wife I never found this to be true. Purgatory vs Hell, The Truth. She saved his life in the night encampment when she made haste to circumcise her son. From the day that God spoke to Moses your brother, he has not lain with me. Miriam immediately went to Aaron, and the two discussed the matter. As with other major Biblical figures, the venue of the first encounter between Moses and Zipporah, his future wife, was beside a well (Ex. Moses and the latter met at the mountain of God when Moses was on his way to Egypt (Ex. Citizens born into the land were forbidden by God's law to "vex" (oppress or otherwise mistreat) those aliens around them as they, too, were at one time strangers in Egypt (Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:33). Ive read all these accounts and one time believe them to be the same but after reading Josephus to them to be two separate marriages and ladies. Who knows, but it gives me hope to relate to Moses in this thing. Another interpretation, however, has this danger hovering over Moses, and in order to save him, Zipporah circumcises their son. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? And the Lord said to Moses, When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. According to the Rabbis, Miriam intended to praise her brother, and she wanted to increase procreative activity, but nevertheless was punished, because of the severity of gossip (Sifrei on Numbers chap. They were also bring the commanded sacrificial offerings when they committed sins of ignorance. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. Whose legs did she touch? Ex. 4.1K views, 50 likes, 28 loves, 154 comments, 48 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7th District AME Church: Thursday Morning Opening Session 48 And after the death of Joseph, the nobles of Egypt came into the house of Joseph, and the stick came into the hand of Reuel the Midianite, and when he went out of Egypt, he took it in his hand and planted it in his garden. Detail of Jacob Jordaens' painting "Moses and his Ethiopian Wife Zipporah," c. 1650. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!So he let him alone. 46 And when Jacob had fled to Padan-aram, he took it into his hand, and when he returned to his father he had not left it behind him.
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