When he was with Jethro, he saw how fine were her actions. Because of this pledge, Moses had to return to Midian after he had been sent to Egypt, as it is said (Ex. At the time of Moses marriage to Zipporah he was no longer married to the Ethiopian Adoniah (Tharbis). Getting Closer to God Lessons from the Life of Moses. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,and I say to you, Let my son go that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son. At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Although any alien or Gentile (a term used for anyone of a race different that Israel) that was not circumcised could not partake of the yearly Passover ceremony, they still were required by law to do several things. 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). We first meet Zipporahwho later became Moses's wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. Moses is told that his father-in-law Jethro is coming to see you, with your wife and her two sons (Exod i8:6). And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. When Miriam saw the lamps, she exclaimed: Happy are these, and happy are their wives! Zipporah corrected her: Do not say, happy are their wives, rather, woe to their wives. ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Tell us where you're. 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. 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. I havent lost my family. The Rabbis suggest that Miriam and Aaron talked about Moses having withdrawn from his wife. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. 4:2426. Vetus in the Bible: A Feminist Approach. When Jethro invited Moses into his house, the latter entered the garden and saw the staff. Another exegetical tradition places Miriam next to Zipporah when Moses was told (Num. Proud member Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. This is problematic, since the Torah does not relate that Moses took an additional wife, nor is there any mention of children whom she borenot to mention the distastefulness of Mosess marrying a second wife while Zipporah was in her fathers house, waiting to rejoin him. 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 the Midianite was a descendant of Midian, Abraham's son by his third wife Keturah. 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. 12)? In Numbers 12:1, Moses wife became the apparent reason for Miriam and Aaron's rebellion against Moses. Zipporah was a midianite who are a nation that were birthed by Abraham, which made Zipporah Shemitic. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. What can her life and her decisions tell believers today about the human condition? How can we know which is correct? According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. Just as everyone speaks of the blackness of the Cushite, so do all proclaim the beauty of Zipporah (Tanhuma, Zav 13). 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. Zipporah is not well rewarded. Im pretty sure it was a source of inspiration for that popular story line. Remember the only way to know if scripture is valid is to read it. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2011. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. [13]:248,253254, In the Druze religion, Zipporah's father Jethro is revered as the spiritual founder, chief prophet, and ancestor of all Druze. The second position is that Moses was negligent regarding his sons circumcision. Eventually they will walk their own path. 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). Both of these assertions are inaccurate. 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. [11], The Samaritan Pentateuch text refers to Moses' wife Zipporah as "Kaashet" (which translates to "the beautiful woman"), rather than "Cushit" ("black woman" or "Cushite woman"). Even if he got to keep his first wife concurrently with his second (from these records its a little unclear, maybe Miriam and Moses were telling Moses he should put away his Ethiopian wife who wasnt given to him in a spiritual way, and only have one wife, Zippporah, who was acquired in a spiritual manner). 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. 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. Let us know. Moses had killed an Egyptian by accident and fled to the Midianites since the Pharaoh sought to kill Moses. 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. Zipporahs actions led to a Talmudic discussion of the ability of women to perform circumcision. Saturday Or Sunday? divorced"). Testamentum 43 (1993): 495518. In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. In conversations we have daily on the Word of God and the life of great men like Moses my questions are answered know. 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. Why are you confused. What Is The True Sabbath Day? At some point, God told Moses to bring his family to Egypt in order to free his people. 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. [3] In Exodus 2:18, Jethro is also referred to as Reuel, and in the Book of Judges (Judges 4:11) as Hobab. God blessed them with children. 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. In the Bible, women are often praised when they are obedient but they sometimes disappear from the text after giving birth or getting married. Numbers 12:1 is the only passage in the Old Testament where Moses' wife is identified as a "Cushite.". Some women are beautiful in their youth but are repulsive in their old age. 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. Miriam learned of this after the appointment of the seventy elders (Num. 18: . The story is definitely the same, although the name of the Cushite (Ethiopian) queen is different, it is clearly the same history being recorded. There are some people in the Bible whose lives we only see in bits and pieces, and Zipporah is one of those figures. 2 After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her, 3 along with her two sons. She then flings the foreskin at his feet, declaring that he ishatan damimto her(Exod 4:26). Zipporahs uniqueness is the subject of yet another tradition. 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. Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, along with her two sons. In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. Below is an excerpt from the Josephus works. The first sign of trouble came when Moses set off to Egypt after forty years of exile. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to Zipporah, whom they considered as differing from other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to her; they considered her different than other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. She heroically saved Moses from an attack by circumcising her son. You can see here that Tharbis is mentioned, not in the bible scriptures, but in the Josephus histories. Expository 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. Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. The most popular incident is when Moses is challenged by Aaron and Miriam, because of his marriage to an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1). God used her to be a mother, a partner, and preserved her memory in His Word. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Answer: Some think Moses married a woman of a different race than he was. 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. In a marriage, spouses should support one another and help navigate the relationship with their respective relations. 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. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? [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 underlying aim of the midrashim that recount how Zipporahs beauty was preserved in her old age is to aggrandize Moses. 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. Upon their return home, their father asked them, "How is it that you have come home so early today?" The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah: First English Translation Compared with the Masoretic Version. Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 2011. 18, before the Giving of the Torah, which is immediately presented in the following chapters (Ex. This is something that Ive always wondered about, because when I checked the background of Moses wife I never found this to be true. Well, Heavenly Father has something in store for me that I cant see right now, I have faith in that. 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. "Where is he then? Thank you! They answer that just as a Cushite has different skin, Zipporah was different, since she was more comely than all other women. 17K views, 519 likes, 455 loves, 3.7K comments, 232 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. 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. This Talmudic source (albeit with opposing views) highlights Zipporahs uniqueness, as the only woman in the Bible said to have performed a circumcision. Thanks for the expository (article). All in all, we can't say. The sons of Ham, mentioned within the Book of Genesis, have been identified with nations in Africa (Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya), the Levant (Canaan), and Arabia. 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!" 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). There is no information about how Zipporah felt about it, and she is still a mystery in many ways. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. [4] Hobab is also the name of Jethro's son in Numbers 10:29. 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. I wouldnt call Jasher non biblical. This is the first time I have heard that Moses had an Ethiopian wife! And not for a few months as Moses may have assumed. 45 And when Abraham had given all he had to his son Isaac, he also gave to him this stick. Those "strangers in a strange land," the non-Israelites of another race living in the Promised Land, received the same blessings as those natural citizens who obeyed the Eternal. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. 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. The story is already difficult for the narrator, who adds a comment thathatan damimrefers to circumcision. Moses' First Wife - Zipporah Moses was an exile. Jewish Women's Archive. Pharaohs daughter, who raised him, was aware of his heritage when she found him the basket, but raised him anyway. 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. Since modesty is appropriate for the relations between a man and his wife, how did Miriam learn of Mosess abstinence? 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. Moses married an Ethiopian woman who was not of Shemitic lineage, she was Hamitic (this information is only found in the book of Yasher), that is why Miriam spoke against her. Moses then left the Ethiopians after forty years of ruler-ship (Jasher 76:5-12). [26] She is the main character in Marek Halter's novel Zipporah, Wife of Moses (2005).[27]. If youre equating marriage to sex that is not a biblical understanding. Countertraditions In return for her good deed, God gave Moses permission to marry her (Exodus 18:13). 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). : . I trust Him. Who knows, but it gives me hope to relate to Moses in this thing. Moses goes out to greet Jethro and takes him into his tent, but nothing is said about his greeting Zipporah. While this devotion is not a bad thing, it requires extra work to make the relationship work. Zipporah did not seem to always let Moses know what she needed. How did she fit in with Moses life after God called him to lead the Hebrew people? In the midrashic expansion, when the daughters of Jethro returned home, they told their father that a stranger had saved them from the shepherds, and he asked them: Why did you leave the man? 99). 18:2). She takes a flint and cuts off her sons foreskin. This passage mostly focuses on Jethro aiding Moses in getting help judging the conflicts among the tribes. 12:1): because of the Cushite woman he had marriedhe married her because she was a Cushite woman (Sifrei Zuta 12:1). Bless you and i will keep on follow and read the Word until i understand more. We are told that the Most High used what is now known as the supernatural staff of Moses to create the worlds (Jasher 77:42). There is an understanding about Moses wife, which says that he was married to an Ethiopian lady. Zipporah was one of them. 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. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. 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. Higger], chap. Most probably, the . Many of the patriarchs had multiple wives, and we dont know the details of their relationships. According toU.S. News and World Report, removing the foreskin was mandatory among Hebrews, as God had told Abraham. [citation needed], Moses' wife is referred to as a "Cushite woman" in Numbers 12. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. 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. After Zipporah performed the circumcision, she took the foreskin and touched his legs (v. 25). They were also bring the commanded sacrificial offerings when they committed sins of ignorance. [14][15][16][17][18] Moses was allowed to wed Zipporah after helping save Jethro's daughters and their flock from competing herdsmen. [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. 12). 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. "Zipporah: Midrash and Aggadah." The common assumption made is that Zipporah was Ethiopian, some even say that there is some type of biblical error. Above you can see that Reuel (Jethro) was Moses father in law and the priest of Midian too. On their way, at a night encampment, The Lord met him [Moses] and tried to kill him(Exod 4:24). Meyers, Carol, General Editor. 43 And when God had driven Adam from the garden of Eden, he took the stick in his hand and went and tilled the ground from which he was taken. When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. Thank you for this! How could I ever be as happy with a now broken family. This passage reveals that sometime after the exit from Egypt, Zipporah gave birth to another son named Eliezer, and was either sent back, or returned to Midian to be with her father. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. : 247 Inspiration. They had several rough patches in their marriage in part because of Moses devotion to his responsibilities. The ones that are, are in the minority and they are a blessing. At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaoh's judgment after he . This criticism displeases God, who punishes Miriam with Tzaraath (often glossed as leprosy). She became the mother of Gershom and Eliezer, Moses' children. Ex. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian he saw abusing a Hebrew. In the Book of Chronicles, two of her grandsons are mentioned: Shebuel, son of Gershom; and Rehabiah, son of Eliezer (1 Chronicles 23:1617). 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. That Bloody Bridegroom (Exodus 4:2426). Vetus The Patriachs who had multiple wives never sought these wives out, except for Solomon and the results were negative in his case. 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. 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). He fled from the scene of a crimehe had murdered an Egyptian for being cruel to an Israelite slave. She is also described as a practical woman capable of taking action at the right moment. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. Have an update or correction? 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. The latter tries to help, and is punished. Everything belongs to Yah. but I was confused in regards to you saying that Adoniah and Moses consummated the marriage?? 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. Part of why God cursed Miriam with leprosy was because Moses would not stand up to her. The girls answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock." 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. Sorry to here about the break up. The last mention of Zipporah came while the Hebrews were camped in the wilderness near Mount Sinai. In a third tradition, the initiative to marry Zipporah came from Moses himself. Patterson, Dorothy. Robinson, Bernard P. Zipporah to the Rescue: A Contextual Study of Exodus Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 2:21). How To Worship God: What Is Spirit And What Is Truth? Who was she? Your question refers to Numbers 12:1 that states his mate was a Cushite, a term often used to refer to African nations. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. 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. This story sounds strikingly similar to the story of Excalibur. 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. Before arriving in Egypt, he sent his family to their home country, and he possibly even married another woman. All the Women of the Bible. Thank you!!!!! 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. Jewish Women's Archive. This exegesis explains why only one of Mosess sons was uncircumcised, and why they were not in such mortal danger immediately after his birth, but only after they had left Jethros home and were released from his vow. There are several interesting passages about interactions between Zipporah, her husband, and her in-laws. He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). The answer is no: Moses never had more than four wives. 11). Why Didn't Moses Enter the Promised Land. She then touched Moses saying, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" If you are asking me to give you Zipporah, swear to me that you will not take her far away from me; I will give her to you only upon this condition. Moses immediately swore to him, as it is said: Moses consented [va-yoel] to stay with the man (Ex. The latter understanding is based on Zipporah's declaration in the following verse (25) that you are truly a bridegroom of blood to me, which is directed to her bridegroom, Moses. After the Giving of the Torah, a life of sexual abstinence was imposed on Moses. Kadari, Tamar. That being said I did not say Moses had sex with his Ethiopian wife in this article, they were just married. Zipporah may be one of the most intriguing figures in the early books of the Bible. Pardes, Ilana. This book is mentioned in the scriptures but many people think it doesnt exist. 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. Zipporah found very this difficult and she Miriam, forming a bond of feminine solidarity as Miriam lent an attentive ear and tried to help. Salem Media Group. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. 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. 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. 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. The woman is not named. 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). This passage can be difficult to understand, and different thinkers and theologians have various interpretations of what happened here. With copies of The Book of Jasher in publication. The text does not reveal that Zipporah was the Cushite woman spoken of in Numbers 12. Answer (1 of 4): This is a very difficult Question to answer because this portion of Moses' life is pretty much presented in A-B-C straightforward chronological fashion, emphasizing only the order in which events occurred and giving very little credence or point of reference to the exact year(s) . 1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. Who was Moses' wife? We do trust Josephus as a historical source, but we don't know if we can corroborate everything he says. I cant tell you how much this helped me. 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). The misconception is that Zipporah was Ethiopian and she was not, she was Shemitic. 2:20). Whose legs did she touch? Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . [12][bettersourceneeded], "Cushite woman" becomes in the Greek Septuagint and Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version (4th century). Shalom. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com. The circumcision performed by Zipporah is one of the most intriguing moments in the Bible, though the meaning behind her words is still unclear. In-laws have an impact in a relationship: Moses siblings did not like Zipporah and spoke badly about their brother because of it. Zipporah was one of them. Their parting took place on the way, following the encounter with Aaron. Zipporah was left all but divorced. Ask him in to break bread (Ex. 2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The Bloody Bridegroom: The Interpretation of Exodus 4:2426. Thank you! Eventually Reuel the Midianite ended up with the stick after the death of Joseph. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. After Moses succeeded in taking the Israelites out of Egypt, and won a battle against Amalek, Reuel came to the Hebrew camp in the wilderness of Sinai, bringing with him Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Countertraditions 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 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. New York: 2000. Once the Israelites were closer to his own land, he came to visit and brought Zipporah and the two boys with him. 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. Most. Touched by Greatness Women in the Life of Moses. Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. Detail of Jacob Jordaens' painting "Moses and his Ethiopian Wife Zipporah," c. 1650. That was in the year 2238 after Creation. Since he himself is apparently always in preparation for meeting with God, we can infer that he never sleeps with Zipporah.
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