Some women are fit but not comely, while others are comely but not fit, while Zipporah was both beautiful and fit. Rabbah 5:5). 24:34, which speaks of a bill of divorce. Another view maintains that he separated from her orally (and therefore this was not a formal act of divorce) (Mehilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Masekhta de-Amalek, Yitro 1). (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . There are some people in the Bible whose lives we only see in bits and pieces, and Zipporah is one of those figures. It is an unfortunate thing that women in todays society are generally not willing to stick through the hard times. Zipporah was called a Cushite, meaning at least part if not all of her heritage was from Africa. 18, before the Giving of the Torah, which is immediately presented in the following chapters (Ex. Moses - Years and deeds | Britannica 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. After God commanded Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites, Moses took his wife and sons and started his journey. In regards to the next life, there is no marrying (Matthew 22:30), we will be resurrected in incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:54). He read the symbols on it, extended his hand, and took it. After the Giving of the Torah, God instructed Moses (Deut. Some women are beautiful to others but not to their husband, and there are women who are beautiful to their husband but not to others; while Zipporah was lovely in the eyes of her husband and of everyone who beheld her (Midrash Tehillim 7:18). Miriam and Aaron spoke about Moses because of the beautiful woman he had married, for he had separated from the beautiful woman he married. When Jethro invited Moses into his house, the latter entered the garden and saw the staff. Zipporah, however, understood it and acted decisively to rescue Moses. How Many Wives Did Moses In The Bible Have - CHURCHGISTS.COM The expression "Cushite woman" is used disparagingly against Moses because he . God's anger led [] 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. Shalom. "Why did you leave the man? In another midrashic account, Jethro agreed to the marriage between Moses and Zipporah on condition that their firstborn would be an idolater (see below). Throughout the Pentateuch, Moses's wife is identified as Zipporah, a Midianite woman and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:21; 3:1). 11:27) that Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp! Zipporahs reaction to this report was: Woe to their wives. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Another exegetical tradition places Miriam next to Zipporah when Moses was told (Num. This passage mostly focuses on Jethro aiding Moses in getting help judging the conflicts among the tribes. There, Moses met a man named Jethro and received Jethro's daughter Zipporah in marriage. She is later reunited with Moses when her father . Dont forget to share this with someone that needs it. 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. 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. Pardes, Ilana. Midrashic tradition assumed they were discussing Moses neglect of Zipporah. Zipporah was left all but divorced. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2013. This is the land that Moses dwelt in when he took refuge from Pharaoh. He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). [3] In Exodus 2:18, Jethro is also referred to as Reuel, and in the Book of Judges ( Judges 4:11) as Hobab. [12][bettersourceneeded], "Cushite woman" becomes in the Greek Septuagint and Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version (4th century). In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. Who was Moses' wife? Did Moses have more than one wife? | GotQuestions.org When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. Eventually they will walk their own path. Moses marries Zipporah during his time in Midian. He went to Jethro and asked: "Give me your daughter Zipporah in marriage." Jethro replied: "Do you want to do to me what your ancestor Jacob did? The Torah does not specify when Zipporah left Moses, nor the reason for this parting. 99). After being taken in by the family of the Pharaoh, Moses grew up among the upper class in the culture, but he did become aware of his Hebrew lineage. So here we see that Moses reigned over the people of Cush. In Hebrew, her name means "bird" or "little bird.". Zipporah was the wife of Moses. Countertraditions Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/kieferpix. Just as Joseph was a Hebrew, with his wife being and Egyptian, yet his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, were Israelites due to their father's line. All rights reserved. Moses and Zipporah would have been married for over 40 years by this time, and it is unlikely that Moses' siblings would just then be protesting. In the Book of Chronicles, two of her grandsons are mentioned: Shebuel, son of Gershom; and Rehabiah, son of Eliezer (1 Chronicles 23:1617). Testamentum 36 (1986): 447461. Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. Lockyer, Herbert. 47 Also when he went down to Egypt he took it into his hand and gave it to Joseph, one portion above his brethren, for Jacob had taken it by force from his brother Esau. : . Kadari, Tamar. We are told that Moses led the Ethiopians in battle against the Magician Balaam and his two sons (Jasher 72:3,6), who had taken over the Ethiopian castle and convinced the Ethiopians to betray their original king while he was in battle. Another interpretation, however, has this danger hovering over Moses, and in order to save him, Zipporah circumcises their son. Your question refers to Numbers 12:1 that states his mate was a Cushite, a term often used to refer to African nations. Im pretty sure it was a source of inspiration for that popular story line. Rabbah [ed. 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. In conversations we have daily on the Word of God and the life of great men like Moses my questions are answered know. [9][10] One interpretation is that the wife is Zipporah, and that she was referred to as a Cushite though she was a Midianite, because of her beauty. The situation remains unclear to us. When the daughters of Reuel, a Midianite priest, were being harassed, Moses helped them. "the written Torah." Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. The meaning of "Cushite" is uncertain. This criticism displeases God, who punishes Miriam with Tzaraath (often glossed as leprosy). Lutzer, Erwin. My wife left me, and after 5 months of wrestling with God, and much turmoil (I know there is more grieving still to be done), and a several-hour prayer last night, I woke up this morning with that song from The Prince of Egypt in my head, all Ive ever wanted. I know its an animated film and not 100% accurate (it might not even be 10% accurate, who knows), but Ive been wrestling with the fact that I covenanted to this woman, had 4 kids with her, was happier than I ever thought possible, then bam, without warning shes gone. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. She takes a flint and cuts off her sons foreskin. The two latter midrashim are based on the juxtaposition of the appointment of the seventy elders and the prophesying of Eldad and Medad (Num. Aaron goes forth to greet his brother and hugs and kisses him. That Bloody Bridegroom (Exodus 4:2426). Vetus of 45 And when Abraham had given all he had to his son Isaac, he also gave to him this stick. Moses defended the girls and watered their flocks. Higger], chap. In the midrashic presentation, Moses took them with him because he wanted them to be with the Israelites when they received the Torah (Ex. Thank you for this! Zipporah. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again. So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again. According to one tradition, Miriam saw that Zipporah no longer adorned herself with womens jewelry, and asked her: Why have you stopped wearing womens ornaments? Zipporah answered: Your brother no longer cares about this. Thus Miriam learned that Moses had abstained from intercourse (Sifrei on Numbers chap. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have d15one foolishly and have sinned. 2:21), understanding the word va-yoel as a customary wording of a vow. At some point, God told Moses to bring his family to Egypt in order to free his people. in the Bible: A Feminist Approach. This book is mentioned in the scriptures but many people think it doesnt exist. Jacob was alone and wrestled with the angel all night; Moses is with his wife, who comes to his rescue. According to the biblical narrative, Moses lived 120 years and was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh, but there is no indication how old he was when he went to see the Hebrews. 5:2627): Go, say to them, Return to your tents. But you remain here with MeIsrael shall return to their wives, but you shall not return to marital relations (Tanhuma, Zav 13). The midrash discloses that the existence of normal marital relations is important for a woman, and constitutes a significant part of her femininity and her self-perception. 2021 23 Jul The wife of Moses is named Zipporah. Now we know that Moses was married to Adoniah (Tharbis), by just simply understanding the history of Israel, we can say that Moses was married twice. Who Was Zipporah? Moses' Wife in the Bible - Bible Study Tools The last mention of Zipporah came while the Hebrews were camped in the wilderness near Mount Sinai. Answer Zipporah in the Bible was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. WHO WAS MOSES' WIFE? (Numbers 12:1) | Perry Stone Ministries Her words stopped the attack against Moses. Below is an excerpt from the Josephus works. "Zipporah: Midrash and Aggadah." Here's a scripture that shows that Reuel (Jethro) Zipporah's father was a Midianite. How To Worship God: What Is Spirit And What Is Truth? I am so excited to get this information. The next documented moment in Zipporahs life came after the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Zipporah, in contrast, was a Cushite in her poverty and a Cushite with regal status. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to her; they considered her different than other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. Her private life is revealed by chance when her pain bursts forth and she unfolds her feelings before Miriam. Rabbah 2:33; Mann, Fragments from the Geniza, fragment 12, p. 95). Moses therefore fled from Egypt, and arrived in Midian. Who Was Tharbis and Did Moses Marry Twice? - christianity.com Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. Context matters: Why Miriam and Aaron dare rebuke Moses A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). They believed Zipporahs ethnicity disqualified him from being Gods sole mouthpiece. On his journey he took Zipporah and his son Gershom, who was uncircumcised. I havent broken my covenant to her, and maybe God will still honor it in the next life, and maybe she will too when her mental illnesses are then gone. Also keep in mind that Jethro is also known as Reuel, you can see this in the below scriptures: 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their fathers flock. 42 And this is the stick with which all the works of our God were performed, after he had created heaven and earth, and all the host of them, seas, rivers and all their fishes. In each one, she seems to come into conflict with the culture of her husband, as well as being stuck between Moses the man, and Moses the prophet. Zipporah May be Obscure, but the Wife of Moses Mattered - US News 11). Many of us are familiar with Moses' wife, Zipporah. A second tradition has Jethro deciding upon Zipporahs marriage to Moses after he brought Moses into his home and came to know his qualities. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. In Marcel Proust's story Swann's Way (1913), Swann is struck by the resemblance of his eventual wife Odette to Sandro Botticellis painting of Zipporah in a Sistine Chapel fresco, and this recognition is the catalyst for his obsession with her. Exodus 18:2 After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in [4] Hobab is also the name of Jethro's son in Numbers 10:29 . "Where is he then? However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. Before arriving in Egypt, he sent his family to their home country, and he possibly even married another woman. He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). Boast Not Against The Branches: Olive Tree Bible Verse Explained. Lets look at what the scriptures actually say by starting in the book of Exodus. The story is already difficult for the narrator, who adds a comment thathatan damimrefers to circumcision. 39 And it was that whilst he prayed he looked opposite to him, and behold a sapphire stick was placed in the ground, which was planted in the midst of the garden. 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. There are women who are poor, the children of the poor, who do not know how to conduct themselves when they come in contact with royalty. Its important that we study the scriptures our self, even the scripts we are told are not part of the sixty-six books that we have been left with. Eventually Reuel the Midianite ended up with the stick after the death of Joseph. Patterson, Dorothy. Being married to a person with a passion or calling can be hard: Zipporahs husband confronted the most powerful ruler in the world at the time, saw God so much he was physically changed, and led people through the wilderness for forty years. They said: Moses is haughty. The story is definitely the same, although the name of the Cushite (Ethiopian) queen is different, it is clearly the same history being recorded. This is something that Ive always wondered about, because when I checked the background of Moses wife I never found this to be true. Let us know. Moses and the Kushite Woman: Classic Interpretations and Philo's Allegory, Jewish history, Jewish religion: the weight of three thousand years, "Moses and the Kushite Woman: Classic Interpretations and Philo's Allegory", "Jacob Jordaens and Moses's Ethiopian Wife", Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, "Proust's Aesthetic Analogies: Character and Painting in Swann's Way", The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, "Yvonne De Carlo, 84; Said Her "Munsters" Role Made Her Hot", Moses and the Kushite Woman: Classic Interpretations and Philos Allegory, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy, With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, Current Ummah of Islam (Ummah of Muhammad), ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zipporah&oldid=1152724917, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from April 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Articles lacking reliable references from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Mother Abiona or Amtelai the daughter of Karnebo. Jethro was one of the magicians of Egypt, and when he saw Pharaohs staff with its magical symbols, he desired it and took it. Josephus was a devout Jew, who lived just after the death of the Messiah, he had knowledge of all the historical information about Israel. Who was Moses' wife? 2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, I have been a sojournerin a foreign land), and the name of the other, Eliezer(for he said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh). (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Af and Hemah (the destructive angels of wrath and anger) came and swallowed Moses, leaving only his legs. The ribbons in her hat resemble a cross. Everything belongs to Yah. He knew God wanted his son circumcised, and Zipporah felt forced to take action. She may be Zipporah, the known wife of Moses (Exod 2:21, 18:2), or another woman. Her mysterious life leaves us with more questions than answers, but it does not mean her life was not worth studying. 12:1 attests that Miriam and Aaron spoke against the Cushite woman whom Moses had married. 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. Thank you, for this informative article. After having performed this rite, Zipporah says (v. 26): A bridegroom of blood because of the circumcision [la-mulot, in the plural], from which the Rabbis deduced two elements of the circumcision procedure: periah (uncovering the corona) and zizin (the shreds of the corona, that invalidate the circumcision) (JT Nedarim 3:9, 38b; Deut. At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian he saw abusing a Hebrew. Testamentum 43 (1993): 495518. Zipporah, or Tzipora (/zpr, zpr/; Hebrew: , ippr, "bird"),[a] is mentioned in the Book of Exodus as the wife of Moses, and the daughter of Reuel/Jethro, the priest and prince of Midian.[2]. He meets the seven daughters of Reuel, priest of Midian, at a well; rescues them from shepherds who are harassing them; and fills their jugs with water. 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. The girls answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock." Moses neglect of Zipporah is obvious, as he (not God) tells the men at Sinai not to approach any women in preparation for Gods approach in three days(Exod 19:2). The Rabbis resolve this by identifying the Cushite woman with Zipporah. The second position is that Moses was negligent regarding his sons circumcision. 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. Women in Scripture. Moses first Marriage was to Adoniah as previously mentioned and his second marriage was to Reuel (Jethro) the Midianites daughter Zipporah. 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. She circumcised her. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. 4:24). I also came across the fact that he had been married to an Ethiopian woman and it had me looking into the relationship between the Midians and the Ethiopians. Shalom. They were also bring the commanded sacrificial offerings when they committed sins of ignorance. After the battle, Tharbis the Ethiopian queen made an agreement to marry Moses and he accepted. How Many Wives Did Moses Have? - Understanding the Bible Rabbah 5:8). We would have to read it and compare, and the Spirit should lead you, Shalom. Zipporah: Reminding Us Who We Are - Faithward.org Rabbah 1:32). 99). Now you know that Moses was in fact married to an Ethiopian, you can go and educate others. Have an update or correction? Who was Zipporah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Answer: Some think Moses married a woman of a different race than he was. Yocheved - Chabad.org All these were the children of Keturah. It is unclear whether she remained with Moses or returned to Midian. So even though I have always hated the idea of divorce, no matter how much she drove me nuts or didnt step up to the plate when it came to our family, I patiently accepted her for who she was because she was the woman I chose, even though our relationship didnt start in Gods way, and now maybe God is rewarding me for that patience. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. Thank you!!!!! Moses marries Zipporah [ edit] 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? shillach meaning "dismissed, i.e. After 10 years, she turned to her father and said: "This Hebrew who has been jailed in the pit for the past 10 years, nobody has come around asking for him. Unlike the human tendency to want or expect perfection in religious heroes, historic Judaism simply asked that its heroes do more good than evil. Numbers 12:1 is the only passage in the Old Testament where Moses' wife is identified as a "Cushite.". Zipporah first appeared in the Book of Exodus after Moses fled Egypt. 4:2728). 31 December 1999. The Truth About Moses' Wife Zipporah - Grunge Both of these assertions are inaccurate. Book of Numbers 12:1 states that Moses was criticized by his older siblings for having married a "Cushite woman", Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version. Yah will give us a new heart and blissful peace (1 Corinthians 2:9). She saved his life in the night encampment when she made haste to circumcise her son. Other interpreters see the Cushite woman as a second wife, with Miriam and Aaron opposed to the marriage. 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. Instead, she was a married single for the rest of her life. Who Was Zipporah and What Can We Learn from Her Life? - Bible Study Tools While the Israelites/Hebrews were captives in Egypt, Moses killed an Egyptian who was striking a Hebrew, for which offense Pharaoh sought to kill Moses. When we read the bible we see mention of the book of Jasher quoted above, which gives credence to its authority (Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18). Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. He planted the staff in the garden of his house, and no man could approach it. Your children are a gift from Yah (Psalms 127:3). Ive already told friends about what Ive read. 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. In thanks, Jethro--known as the Priest of Midian--invited him to stay in his camp, and gave him Zipporah to marry. So just as Abraham's marriage could not be condemned by legal standards established centuries later, and just as you were not in 2003 required to pay taxes according to the reforms of . and to be the occasion of the great danger the Ethiopians were in, when they had before boasted of their great achievements, she fell deeply in love with him; and upon the prevalency of that passion, sent to him the most faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their marriage. At the time of Moses marriage to Zipporah he was no longer married to the Ethiopian Adoniah (Tharbis). He went to Jethro and asked: Give me your daughter Zipporah in marriage. Jethro replied: Do you want to do to me what your ancestor Jacob did? 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. Salem Media Group. Moses goes out to greet Jethro and takes him into his tent, but nothing is said about his greeting Zipporah. Thank you so much for your, very much needed, information. These scriptures should clear up any misunderstandings you may have had about these different names. Moses fled to Midian, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Since modesty is appropriate for the relations between a man and his wife, how did Miriam learn of Mosess abstinence? While this devotion is not a bad thing, it requires extra work to make the relationship work.
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