The story of Moses is one of the most powerful and significant narratives in the Bible. Among the many important aspects of Moses’ life, his marriage and family are topics that deserve attention. Moses had two significant women in his life: Zipporah and a mysterious woman known as the Cushite.
Each played a role in his journey as a leader of Israel. Their stories offer valuable insights into Moses’ life, his relationships, and the cultural context of the time.
What the Bible Reveals About Zipporah
Zipporah is the wife most associated with Moses in the biblical narrative. She is introduced in the Book of Exodus, and her background offers a fascinating glimpse into Moses’ early years, long before he led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Zipporah’s lineage, her marriage to Moses, and their interaction reveal much about the family dynamics and the cultural intersection between Moses’ Hebrew heritage and Zipporah’s Midianite origins.
Moses Marries Zipporah, Jethro’s Daughter
Zipporah was the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest. After Moses fled from Egypt for killing an Egyptian who was abusing a Hebrew slave, he sought refuge in the land of Midian. There, he met Jethro’s daughters, including Zipporah, when they were being harassed by shepherds at a well. Moses defended them and helped them water their flocks.
Impressed by Moses’ actions, Jethro invited him to stay with their family. Eventually, Moses married Zipporah, aligning himself with the Midianites, a people distinct from the Israelites, but still connected through ancient family ties to Abraham. Zipporah’s marriage to Moses marked a significant chapter in his life as it provided him a place of refuge, family, and a new cultural bond outside of Egypt.
Zipporah Gives Birth to Gershom and Eliezer
Moses and Zipporah had two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom, the firstborn, received his name because Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.” This statement highlights Moses’ feeling of displacement, being caught between his Hebrew identity and his new life among the Midianites. The birth of Eliezer is also significant, as his name means “My God is my help,” reflecting Moses’ faith and his reliance on God despite his circumstances.
These sons represent the blending of Moses’ Hebrew heritage with his Midianite family through Zipporah. Gershom and Eliezer’s names reflect Moses’ internal struggles with identity and purpose during the years before he became the leader of the Israelites.
Zipporah Reunites with Moses at Mount Sinai
An interesting moment occurs after Moses accepts God’s command to return to Egypt and free the Israelites. On his way back, a mysterious and tense encounter takes place between God and Moses, where God intends to kill Moses.
Zipporah intervenes by circumcising her son and touching Moses’ feet with the foreskin, saying, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” This act seems to avert the divine threat, but the reason for this unusual event remains open to interpretation.
After this encounter, Zipporah and her sons temporarily leave Moses and return to Jethro. The next time we see Zipporah in the biblical narrative is when she reunites with Moses at Mount Sinai after the exodus. Jethro brings Zipporah and the children back to Moses, and this reunion signifies a return to family amidst the great responsibilities Moses bore as the leader of Israel.
The Cushite Woman: Moses’ Second Wife
In addition to Zipporah, there is a reference to another woman in Moses’ life: the Cushite woman. The mention of this woman appears in Numbers 12:1, where Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses “because of the Cushite woman he had married.” This short reference has led to numerous questions regarding Moses’ personal life.
A Cushite refers to someone from the region of Cush, which is generally associated with modern-day Ethiopia or southern Egypt. This description places her outside of the Israelite and Midianite peoples, marking her as ethnically different from both Zipporah and Moses. The Cushite woman’s identity is shrouded in mystery, and the Bible provides very little detail about her relationship with Moses.
Was the Cushite Woman Zipporah?
One significant debate centers on whether the Cushite woman mentioned in Numbers is actually Zipporah. Some scholars argue that the reference to the Cushite woman could be a second marriage, indicating that Moses took another wife later in life. Others suggest that the term “Cushite” might refer to Zipporah, symbolically describing her as someone from outside of the Israelite community, as the Midianites were also considered foreigners.
Those who believe Zipporah and the Cushite woman are the same person point to the idea that “Cushite” may have been used metaphorically or culturally, rather than strictly referring to someone from Cush. This argument supports the idea that Miriam and Aaron’s objection to Moses’ marriage was based on Zipporah’s Midianite origins rather than a separate Cushite identity.
On the other hand, many scholars suggest that the Cushite woman was a separate wife entirely. In this view, Moses married a second woman, possibly after Zipporah’s death or separation, and this new marriage led to tensions within the family, particularly with Miriam and Aaron. The Bible’s lack of further detail leaves room for both interpretations.
What Happened to Zipporah?
Zipporah’s story seems to fade from the biblical narrative after the reunion at Mount Sinai. She does not appear again in the accounts of Moses’ later life, including the exodus from Egypt and the years spent wandering in the wilderness. The absence of Zipporah in these later chapters raises questions about her fate.
Some believe that Zipporah may have passed away during the early years of Moses’ leadership, which could explain the introduction of the Cushite woman. Others think that Zipporah simply returned to Midian after her reunion with Moses, choosing to stay with her family while Moses led the Israelites. The Bible does not offer a definitive answer, leaving Zipporah’s ultimate fate open to interpretation.
What is clear is that Zipporah’s impact on Moses’ life was profound. As his wife, she supported him during his time of exile and bore him two sons, who carried on Moses’ legacy. Zipporah’s story also provides a window into the cultural and familial complexities that shaped Moses as a leader, husband, and father.