11:27) that Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp! Zipporahs reaction to this report was: Woe to their wives. 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. These scriptures explain where the staff of Moses came from: 38 And afterward Moses went into the garden of Reuel which was behind the house, and he there prayed to the Lord his God, who had done mighty wonders for him. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Hopefully this article has helped clear up the questions you may have had about Moses wives. Zipporah, however, understood it and acted decisively to rescue Moses. Countertraditions Examples include the films The Ten Commandments (1956),[24] The Prince of Egypt (1998),[25] and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014). Sorry to here about the break up. 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. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? After researching this, I have found this statement was true, but not in the way that most people think. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. Zipporah, in contrast, was a Cushite in her poverty and a Cushite with regal status. She heroically saves Moses and her sons from a random attack from an angel by cutting off her sons foreskin; the explanation for this act is unclear. Most people know that Moses had a staff which he carried when he performed the eleven miracles against Pharaoh in Egypt. On his journey he took Zipporah and his son Gershom, who was uncircumcised. 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. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. 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. of Moses' wife. This is the first time I have heard that Moses had an Ethiopian wife! 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah: First English Translation Compared with the Masoretic Version. After Moses kills an Egyptian, he flees from the pharaoh and settles among the Midianites, an Arab people who occupied desert areas in southern Transjordan, northern Arabia, and the Sinai. Like many other prominent biblical characters, Zipporah is depicted in several works of art. 11). The prevalent idea among the Rabbis is that a woman is qualified to perform circumcision; the fact that she herself does not require circumcision teaches that she is regarded as if she were already circumcised. Zipporah was called a Cushite, meaning at least part if not all of her heritage was from Africa. The Rabbis resolve this by identifying the Cushite woman with Zipporah. [5] The word that makes this difficult is shelucheiha, the sendings [away] of her (Ex. [13]:248,253254, In the Druze religion, Zipporah's father Jethro is revered as the spiritual founder, chief prophet, and ancestor of all Druze. Exodus 4:21-26. God hates divorce, and wants strong marriages, and communication is part of that. Zipporah is presented as the leaders wife, who suffers from the life of abstinence decreed for her husband. Nor had I heard of the book of Jasher. Rabbah 1:32). Both possibilities appear in the midrashic expositions. Thank you! Zipporah noticed her husband was at risk and swiftly used a stone to cut their son's foreskin. 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. Moses had killed an Egyptian by accident and fled to the Midianites since the Pharaoh sought to kill Moses. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Miriam learned of this after the appointment of the seventy elders (Num. Thank you so much for your, very much needed, information. In a third midrashic tableau, Zipporah initiated the conversation and spoke with Miriam, Miriam told this to Aaron, and he added to her words and the two discussed the matter. 31 December 1999. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Who was she? According to this A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrash, Zipporah wanted to marry Moses, acted accordingly, and achieved her goal. Some women are beautiful in their youth but are repulsive in their old age. 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? Most probably, the . Aaron goes forth to greet his brother and hugs and kisses him. 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. Af and Hemah (the destructive angels of wrath and anger) came and swallowed Moses, leaving only his legs. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. How Many Wives Did Moses In The Bible Have - CHURCHGISTS.COM At some point before the exodus from Egypt, Moses sends her and the children away(Exod 18:2). 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). Below you will see one of the sons Abraham had with his late wife Keturah. Your email address will not be published. I wouldnt call Jasher non biblical. Regardless of which parent failed to have their son circumcised, both had to confront this choice later in life, and Gershom paid a price for that. Because of this pledge, Moses had to return to Midian after he had been sent to Egypt, as it is said (Ex. 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. 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). In the midrashic amplification, Zipporah set out for Egypt with Moses, but never arrived there. [citation needed], Moses' wife is referred to as a "Cushite woman" in Numbers 12. Ive already told friends about what Ive read. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Who Was Zipporah and What Can We Learn from Her Life? - Bible Study Tools Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. Required fields are marked *, 2020 We Are Hebrew | Bible Facts & Bible Notes |, 22 comments on Moses Wife: Zipporah Or Tharbis (Adoniah)?. Mosess hope that his family would be present at the Giving of the Torah would nonetheless be realized, because the Torah tells of their reunion in Ex. 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. Higger], chap. An important history book to read is called The works of Josephus I, inside the book we are given more clarity. Zipporah: The Midianite Wife of Moses - Black History In The Bible In a marriage, spouses should support one another and help navigate the relationship with their respective relations. 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. We all become responsible for our own walk with Yah when we become adults (Philippians 2:12). 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. Since modesty is appropriate for the relations between a man and his wife, how did Miriam learn of Mosess abstinence? Moses recognized this quality in her, as it is said (Num. Before the Giving of the Torah, God ordered Moses to sanctify the people, and he said to them (Ex. Like me, they never knew about Adoniah (Tharbis). After killing an Egyptian, Moses runs away to Midian, where he marries Zipporah, the daughter of the local priest (Exod 2:15-22). The Bible records, "She gave birth to a son, and . This criticism displeases God, who punishes Miriam with Tzaraath (often glossed as leprosy). Dont forget to share this with someone that needs it. 31 And they placed the royal crown upon his head, and they gave him for a wife Adoniah the Cushite queen, wife of Kikianus. 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. 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. 51 And when Reuel saw the stick in the hand of Moses, he wondered at it, and he gave him his daughter Zipporah for a wife. New York: 2000. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. His concern for his familys welfare motivates him to send Zipporah back to her fathers home, in order to protect the lives of his family. [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. Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Testamentum 36 (1986): 447461. Intercultural/interracial marriages can work and are Biblical: Zipporah and Moses came from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. The Rabbis also find an allusion to Zipporahs beauty in her name, which means gaze and see [zafu ve-rau] how comely she is (Sifrei on Numbers chap. The two latter midrashim are based on the juxtaposition of the appointment of the seventy elders and the prophesying of Eldad and Medad (Num. Moses therefore fled from Egypt, and arrived in Midian. A Midianite, a Cushite, or both? Cush being another name for Ethiopia. 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). 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). divorced"). ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Tell us where you're. 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? 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. Parents share responsibility for raising their children: The incident at the inn where Zipporah circumcised their son is difficult to understand, especially in a modern context. 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. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to her; they considered her different than other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. It does show that both parents bore responsibility for raising their child up in alignment with Gods ordinances. 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. Did Moses Have Two Wives, Tharbis and Zipporah, or Just One? If we dont study then were only left with half the truth. Robinson, Bernard P. Zipporah to the Rescue: A Contextual Study of Exodus Article The girls answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock." of Later Jewish and Christian tradition . A Mosque in the area of Medina, possibly: This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 22:54. The Truth About Moses' Wife Zipporah - Grunge Eventually Reuel the Midianite ended up with the stick after the death of Joseph. 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. It fills some gaps in the Bible narrative. 2:20). 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. (Exodus 4:24). Race of Moses' Wife - Bible Study [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. Yah will give us a new heart and blissful peace (1 Corinthians 2:9). And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have d15one foolishly and have sinned. She saved his life in the night encampment when she made haste to circumcise her son. The men that decided the cannon (i.e. More research shows a biblical record that supports the information presented by Josephus concerning Moses war against the Ethiopians when he was the king of the Ethiopians. What mattered was whether the "stranger" or non-Israelite was willing to be obedient to God's laws and thus become a citizen of Israel. Moses defended the girls and watered their flocks. In a third tradition, the initiative to marry Zipporah came from Moses himself. After God commanded Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites, Moses took his wife and sons and started his journey. 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). The meaning of "Cushite" is uncertain. All the Women of the Bible. The latter tries to help, and is punished. Let us know. Touched by Greatness Women in the Life of Moses. At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian he saw abusing a Hebrew. 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. 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. After the crown was given to Moses Adoniah the former kings wife married Moses. There, Moses stood up for seven young women who were drawing water who were being driven away from the well by shepherds. After the Giving of the Torah she-bi-khetav: Lit. Remember the only way to know if scripture is valid is to read it. 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. My prayers will go out to you. Moses Wife: Zipporah Or Tharbis (Adoniah)? - wearehebrew.com He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). Well, Heavenly Father has something in store for me that I cant see right now, I have faith in that.
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