Zipporah
“Bird or sparrow”
Summary
The Midianite wife of Moses and daughter of Jethro the priest, who saved Moses' life by circumcising their son during the journey to Egypt.
☩Marriage to Moses
Zipporah was one of seven daughters of Reuel (also called Jethro), the priest of Midian. When Moses fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian, he came to Midian and defended these sisters at a well against shepherds who drove them away. In gratitude, Reuel gave Zipporah to Moses as wife. She bore him two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.
☩The Circumcision Incident
The most dramatic episode involving Zipporah occurred during Moses' return journey to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. At a lodging place, the Lord sought to kill Moses, apparently because he had failed to circumcise his son. Zipporah quickly took a flint knife and circumcised the child, touching Moses' feet with the foreskin and declaring him 'a bridegroom of blood.' This decisive action saved Moses' life, though the exact meaning of her words remains debated by scholars.
☩Later Appearances
At some point, Moses sent Zipporah and their sons back to her father's household, perhaps for their safety during the dangerous confrontation with Pharaoh. After the exodus, Jethro brought Zipporah and the children to Moses in the wilderness, where a joyful reunion took place. Later, when Moses' siblings Miriam and Aaron criticized him for his 'Cushite wife,' this may refer to Zipporah or possibly to a second wife.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Zipporah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Zipporah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).