At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaoh's judgment after he . 2021 23 Jul The wife of Moses is named Zipporah. After killing an Egyptian, Moses runs away to Midian, where he marries Zipporah, the daughter of the local priest (Exod 2:15-22). Then at the age of sixty-six he went to the land of Midian and married Zipporah the Midianite. Everything belongs to Yah. There are several interesting passages about interactions between Zipporah, her husband, and her in-laws. Much of the tension in their marriage is documented only after Moses began to step into his role as the liberator of the Hebrews. Ask him in to break bread (Ex. In return for her good deed, God gave Moses permission to marry her (Exodus 18:13). 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. Other shepherds arrived and drove the girls away, so that they could water their own flocks first. 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). Higger], chap. [12][bettersourceneeded], "Cushite woman" becomes in the Greek Septuagint and Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version (4th century). 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. We all become responsible for our own walk with Yah when we become adults (Philippians 2:12). 40 And he approached the stick and he looked, and behold the name of the Lord God of hosts was engraved thereon, written and developed upon the stick. God blessed them with children. The law you quote is in Deuteronomy, which was not yet in existence when Moses married the Cushite - it was spoken at the very end of Moses' life (Deut 4:44-5:1). Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In the Bible, women are often praised when they are obedient but they sometimes disappear from the text after giving birth or getting married. The Bible and Its Story, Taught By One Thousand Picture Lessons, Moses and his Ethiopian wife Zipporah (Mozes en zijn Ethiopische vrouw Sippora), relationship between Israeli Jews and Druze, "Judges 4 / Hebrew English Bible / Mechon-Mamre". Salem Media Group. However, while Moses was uneasy at the armys lying idle, (for the enemies durst not come to a battle,) this accident happened: Tharbis was the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians: she happened to see Moses as he led the army near the walls, and fought with great courage; and admiring the subtility of his undertakings, and believing him to be the author of the Egyptians success, when they had before despaired of recovering their liberty. Num. Jewish Women's Archive. Im a Christian and I find this very informative. 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). 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. 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 midrash admits that Moses abstained from intercourse with his wife from the time of the Giving of the Torah, but this was at Gods behest. ", Reuel asked them. She then flings the foreskin at his feet, declaring that he ishatan damimto her(Exod 4:26). She is later reunited with Moses when her father . Jewish Women's Archive. Proud member Gen. 17:13 states they must be circumcised [ha-yimol yimol, literally, he who is circumcised shall circumcise], from which the Rabbis deduced that only one who is circumcised may circumcise others. One day while he sat by a well, Reuel's daughters came to water their father's flocks. Note that God makes no distinction between those who are Israelites and those who are "strangers" (Gentiles, aliens, sojourners, those who were not of Israel by "race") in regard to the need to offer sacrifices, the ability to receive forgiveness of sins, and even the punishment for presumptuous sins! His name is Midian, which made him the forefather of the Midianites. The Rabbis raise an objection to the latter view, based on the story of Zipporah, who circumcised her own son, as is related in v. 25: she took [va-tikah] [] and she cut [va-tikhrot] []. The opponents of circumcision by women respond by vocalizing these words differently: va-takah (she caused to be taken), va-takhrat (she caused it to be cut off), implying that Zipporah did not herself circumcise the boy, but told someone else to do this for her. Lets look at what the scriptures actually say by starting in the book of Exodus. 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. Some women are fit but not comely, while others are comely but not fit, while Zipporah was both beautiful and fit. Who was she? At some point before the exodus from Egypt, Moses sends her and the children away(Exod 18:2). An opposing view, however, argues that a woman is not deemed to be as if already circumcised; this commandment is not relevant for the woman, and since she herself is not circumcised, she may not circumcise others. This story sounds strikingly similar to the story of Excalibur. She was born at the very moment when Jacob and his entire household, Levi and his wife among them, had just entered the gates of Egypt. The last time the Bible mentions Zipporah is when she is at Mount Horeb with her family, according to Daily Journal. In a marriage, spouses should support one another and help navigate the relationship with their respective relations. To get the necessary information about how many wives Moses had, we have to study the scriptures more closely. 18, before the Giving of the Torah, which is immediately presented in the following chapters (Ex. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Zipporah quickly circumcised her son with a sharp stone and touched Moses' feet with the foreskin, saying "Surely you are a husband of blood to me!" In Numbers 12 why did Moses get away with intermarriage? 99). That Bloody Bridegroom (Exodus 4:2426). Vetus The Truth About Moses' Wife Zipporah - Grunge Required fields are marked *, 2020 We Are Hebrew | Bible Facts & Bible Notes |, 22 comments on Moses Wife: Zipporah Or Tharbis (Adoniah)?. This totally contradicts the idea that Moses wife could have been an Ethiopian. [6][7][8] In the story, Aaron and Miriam criticize Moses' marriage to a Cushite woman. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. Thank you so much for your, very much needed, information. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. 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. The Midianites themselves were later on depicted at times in non-Biblical sources as dark-skinned and called Kushim, a Hebrew word used for dark-skinned Africans. But no children are ever recorded for a second wife of Moses. 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. Both possibilities appear in the midrashic expositions. 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. The Torah does not specify when Zipporah left Moses, nor the reason for this parting. [6] The idea that Moses separated from Zipporah could be adduced from the description of Jethro bringing Moses his wife, "after she had been sent home" ( ) in Exod. NJAB - Who was Moses' wife? A Midianite, a Cushite, or both? How To Worship God: What Is Spirit And What Is Truth? Testamentum 43 (1993): 495518. Her right hand is to her chest. [13]:248,253254, In the Druze religion, Zipporah's father Jethro is revered as the spiritual founder, chief prophet, and ancestor of all Druze. Patterson, Dorothy. Despite the difficulties in their relationship, Moses and Zipporah did have two children and were married for decades before he went back to Egypt. 3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. 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. Purgatory vs Hell, The Truth. 4:24). Spare The Rod Spoil The Child: Biblical Discipline Explained, Brief Explanation Of Tharbis & Moses Marriage, 19 Old Testament Passages That Foreshadow Jesus, Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18): 11 Likenesses To the Messiah (Jesus), Slavery Bible Verses: Transatlantic Slave Trade Explained, phenomenal woman in the bible: Examples & how to be & Find one, A Quran And Bible Comparison: Why Theyre Not The Same, Canonization Of The Bible: And What We Should Be Reading, Was The Maccabean Revolt successful? Reuel's daughter, who became the wife of Moses ( Exodus 2:21).In consequence of the event recorded in Exodus 4:24-26, she and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when so far on the way with Moses toward Egypt, were sent back by him to her own kinsfolk, the Midianites, with whom they sojourned till Moses afterwards joined them ( 18:2-6). I am so excited to get this information. In a third tradition, the initiative to marry Zipporah came from Moses himself. Shalom. 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. She circumcised her. Many of the patriarchs had multiple wives, and we dont know the details of their relationships. This book is mentioned in the scriptures but many people think it doesnt exist. A second tradition has Jethro deciding upon Zipporahs marriage to Moses after he brought Moses into his home and came to know his qualities. The purpose of Patriarchs having multiple wives was to produce babies, not because of lustful desires. I love the explanation it has answered my many questions. While this devotion is not a bad thing, it requires extra work to make the relationship work. How old was Zipporah when she married Moses and how many years passed He was instrumental in getting back the Ethiopian castle after it was abducted by Balaam the Magician and his two sons. Moses siblings, Aaron and Miriam turned against their brother because he married someone who was not from the race or culture. God hates divorce, and wants strong marriages, and communication is part of that. There, Moses stood up for seven young women who were drawing water who were being driven away from the well by shepherds. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? I trust Him. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. It explains the wars that Moses was a part of when he left Egypt. 31 December 1999. 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. Jacob was alone and wrestled with the angel all night; Moses is with his wife, who comes to his rescue. Their son did. of When Moses asked Jethro to marry his daughter Zipporah, Jethro had told him: If you accept the thing that I will tell you, then I will give her in marriage to you. Moses asked: What is this thing? To which Jethro replied: The first son born to you shall be for idolatry, and your following sons will be for Heaven. Moses accepted Jethros condition (Mehilta de-Rabbi Ishmael Masekhta de-Amalek, Yitro 1). What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. Who was Moses' wife? Did Moses have more than one wife? | GotQuestions.org Who Was Zipporah and What Can We Learn from Her Life. God used her to be a mother, a partner, and preserved her memory in His Word. Context matters: Why Miriam and Aaron dare rebuke Moses 2:21), understanding the word va-yoel as a customary wording of a vow. Later Jewish and Christian tradition . They then ask why she was called the Cushite woman, since she was a Midianite. 2 And all the children of Cush loved Moses all the days that he reigned over them, and all the inhabitants of the land of Cush were greatly afraid of him. The men that decided the cannon (i.e. God's anger led [] And not for a few months as Moses may have assumed. Daughter to a priest, wife of the emancipator of the Israelites from captivity and bondage in Egypt, her unique status invites many questions. 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. How old was Moses wife Zipporah when she died? - Answers 2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. Race of Moses' Wife - Bible Study He puts her in a group of what he calls "notable and sainted Ethiopians". These midrashim depict Moses as not wanting to part from his wife and children, but rather as wishing them to participate in the formative process of the people of Israel. Zipporah noticed her husband was at risk and swiftly used a stone to cut their son's foreskin. Saturday Or Sunday? He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). 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. Moses defended the girls and watered their flocks. 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. Upon hearing her father, Zipporah immediately ran after Moses like a bird (ke-zippor, i.e., with alacrity) (Ex. In another midrashic account, Jethro agreed to the marriage between Moses and Zipporah on condition that their firstborn would be an idolater (see below). She takes a flint and cuts off her sons foreskin. 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). He met her during his years away from Egypt ( Exodus 2:1 ). Zipporah first appeared in the Book of Exodus after Moses fled Egypt. And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have d15one foolishly and have sinned. Article Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. [23], Zipporah is often included in Exodus-related drama. His father-in-law eventually brought Zipporah and her children to Moses, but he doesn't seem to have been happy to see her (via Jewish Women's Archive). 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. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. More proof of Moses marriage to the Ethiopian queen Tharbis known as Adoniah in the book of Jasher can be found below: 30 So Moses took the city by his wisdom, and the children of Cush placed him on the throne instead of Kikianus king of Cush. 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. In the midrashic presentation, Moses took them with him because he wanted them to be with the Israelites when they received the Torah (Ex. There is an understanding about Moses wife, which says that he was married to an Ethiopian lady. The underlying aim of the midrashim that recount how Zipporahs beauty was preserved in her old age is to aggrandize Moses. However, the stories of some of the women of the Bible continue to resonate, despite only minor appearances. There are some people in the Bible whose lives we only see in bits and pieces, and Zipporah is one of those figures. The Rabbis sought to elicit the nature of the parting between Moses and Zipporah from the wording after she had been sent home [shiluheha]. According to one opinion, Moses divorced her, with a writ of divorce, since shiluah also appears in Deut. Testamentum 36 (1986): 447461. 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. 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. Just as everyone speaks of the blackness of the Cushite, so do all proclaim the beauty of Zipporah (Tanhuma, Zav 13). Im happy you discovered something new. While most people would feel grateful when a person saves their lives, Moses didn't seem to appreciate it. 49 And all the mighty men of the Kinites tried to pluck it when they endeavored to get Zipporah his daughter, but they were unsuccessful. Here you can see that Moses married an Ethiopian called Adoniah (Tharbis): Above Moses married his first wife the Ethiopian Adoniah (Tharbis), when he was around twenty-seven (Jasher 73:2) years old.
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