Zipporah

Background and Family

Zipporah's origins are rooted in the land of Midian, located in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula. She was the daughter of Jethro, a priest of Midian, and belonged to a clan that traced its lineage back to Abraham through his wife Keturah. The biblical account introduces her in Exodus 2, where she and her six sisters were harassed by shepherds while attempting to water their father's flock. Moses, having recently fled Egypt after killing an overseer, intervened on their behalf and watered the sheep for them.

In gratitude for his assistance, Jethro invited Moses to eat bread and subsequently gave Zipporah to him in marriage. During their time in Midian, Zipporah bore Moses two sons. The first was named Gershom, reflecting Moses' status as a foreigner in a strange land, and the second was named Eliezer, signifying God’s help in delivering Moses from the sword of Pharaoh. Zipporah’s brother, Hobab, is also noted in the genealogical record of this family unit.

Major Life Events

The Encounter at the Lodging Place

The most significant and enigmatic event involving Zipporah occurs in Exodus 4. As Moses traveled back to Egypt with his family to confront Pharaoh, the text records that the Lord met him at a lodging place and "sought to put him to death." The reason for this divine anger is generally understood by scholars to be Moses' failure to circumcise his son, a fundamental requirement of the Abrahamic covenant.

Zipporah immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. Taking a sharp flint knife, she performed the circumcision herself. The text states:

"But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’ feet. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said." (Exodus 4:25, BSB)

Her decisive action averted the divine threat, and the Lord let Moses alone. Her declaration regarding a "bridegroom of blood" is a unique and archaic expression that highlights the ritualistic and protective nature of her intervention.

Reunion in the Wilderness

Following the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Zipporah reappears in the narrative in Exodus 18. It is revealed that at some point during the plagues or the departure from Egypt, Moses had sent Zipporah and their two sons back to the safety of her father, Jethro. After hearing of the great things God had done for Israel, Jethro brought Zipporah and the children to the Israelite camp at the mountain of God. This reunion facilitated a period of counsel between Jethro and Moses, though the text focuses more on the administrative advice Jethro provided rather than the personal reunion between Zipporah and her husband.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Zipporah’s primary relationship is that of a support system and protector to Moses. As the daughter of a priest, she likely held a position of respect within her own culture before entering the Hebrew narrative. Her relationship with Moses was characterized by the merging of two cultures; she was a Midianite who became the mother of two Hebrew sons. Her father, Jethro, remained a significant influence on Moses, acting as a mentor and advisor, which suggests that Zipporah’s familial ties were instrumental in providing Moses with the stability he needed before assuming leadership of Israel.

Spiritual Significance

Theologically, Zipporah represents the inclusion of non-Israelites in the unfolding plan of God’s redemption. Her role in the circumcision event at the lodging place is paramount. In this instance, Zipporah acts as a surrogate priest, performing a sacred rite that the national leader had neglected. Her actions demonstrate that the covenant requirements were absolute and that Zipporah possessed the spiritual intuition to recognize and rectify a breach in that covenant. Without her intervention, the Exodus might have lacked its primary human leader before it truly began.