Midrashic tradition assumed they were discussing Moses neglect of Zipporah. Hopefully this article has helped clear up the questions you may have had about Moses wives. Answer Zipporah in the Bible was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. [4] Hobab is also the name of Jethro's son in Numbers 10:29. 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. 17K views, 519 likes, 455 loves, 3.7K comments, 232 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. God used her to be a mother, a partner, and preserved her memory in His Word. Moses goes out to greet Jethro and takes him into his tent, but nothing is said about his greeting Zipporah. Because of this pledge, Moses had to return to Midian after he had been sent to Egypt, as it is said (Ex. First lets see whether Moses was married to Zipporah. 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. They believed Zipporahs ethnicity disqualified him from being Gods sole mouthpiece. Zipporah's father was a Midianite, which means that she was a Midianite as well. After killing an Egyptian, Moses runs away to Midian, where he marries Zipporah, the daughter of the local priest (Exod 2:15-22). He fled from the scene of a crimehe had murdered an Egyptian for being cruel to an Israelite slave. After God commanded Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites, Moses took his wife and sons and started his journey. Moses and the latter met at the mountain of God when Moses was on his way to Egypt (Ex. It is called the book of Jasher and it is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. [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. How can we know which is correct? I love the explanation it has answered my many questions. Losing mine has been so painful, but I know that pain will be swallowed up in Christ at some point, but for now I have to suffer it. In regards to the next life, there is no marrying (Matthew 22:30), we will be resurrected in incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:54). After the exodus, her father, the priest of Midian (here called Jethro), comes to visit Moses, bringing Zipporah and her two sons. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. New York: 2000. Thank you! The men that decided the cannon (i.e. She saved his life in the night encampment when she made haste to circumcise her son. It fills some gaps in the Bible narrative. 4.1K views, 50 likes, 28 loves, 154 comments, 48 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7th District AME Church: Thursday Morning Opening Session This Talmudic source (albeit with opposing views) highlights Zipporahs uniqueness, as the only woman in the Bible said to have performed a circumcision. Some people believe that the "Cushite woman" the text referred to whom Moses married was not a second wife, but Zipporah (via My Jewish Learning). Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. Testamentum 36 (1986): 447461. In the midrashic amplification, Zipporah set out for Egypt with Moses, but never arrived there. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah, a life of sexual abstinence was imposed on Moses due to his spiritual standing; this Zipporah found very difficult. Robinson, Bernard P. Zipporah to the Rescue: A Contextual Study of Exodus There are many mysteries surrounding the episode at the end of this week's parsha when Miriam and Aaron say something to Moses with regards to the "Cushite" woman whom he had married. Below is an excerpt from the Josephus works. In Hebrew, her name means "bird" or "little bird.". Thank you! [12][bettersourceneeded], "Cushite woman" becomes in the Greek Septuagint and Aethiopissa in the Latin Vulgate Bible version (4th century). 2:21), understanding the word va-yoel as a customary wording of a vow. 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. Are there other non-biblical Jewish texts that would cast greater light on the Old Testament (Torah)? Thank you for an extremely interesting read. A second tradition has Jethro deciding upon Zipporahs marriage to Moses after he brought Moses into his home and came to know his qualities. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. Im happy you discovered something new. Examples include the films The Ten Commandments (1956),[24] The Prince of Egypt (1998),[25] and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014). Cushites were of the ancestry of either Kush (Nubia) in northeast Africa, or Arabians. It is unclear whether she remained with Moses or returned to Midian. Countertraditions The latter tries to help, and is punished. 47 Also when he went down to Egypt he took it into his hand and gave it to Joseph, one portion above his brethren, for Jacob had taken it by force from his brother Esau. There, Moses met a man named Jethro and received Jethro's daughter Zipporah in marriage. Following their appointment, all Israel kindled lamps and engaged in celebrations, rejoicing at the elders having attained their exalted status. Marriage takes hard work and clear communication from both sides: Zipporah and Moses did not always understand one another, and sometimes Moses got so caught up dealing with his responsibilities to the Hebrew people he forgot about his duties at home. 12). Josephus was a devout Jew, who lived just after the death of the Messiah, he had knowledge of all the historical information about Israel. Who was Moses' wife? His name is Midian, which made him the forefather of the Midianites. 50 So that stick remained planted in the garden of Reuel, until he came who had a right to it and took it. Cush being another name for Ethiopia. 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. In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. Once the Israelites were closer to his own land, he came to visit and brought Zipporah and the two boys with him. 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. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. 41 And he read it and stretched forth his hand and he plucked it like a forest tree from the thicket, and the stick was in his hand. Shalom. Boast Not Against The Branches: Olive Tree Bible Verse Explained. Sorry to here about the break up. Zipporah is not well rewarded. When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. Thank you so much. They then ask why she was called the Cushite woman, since she was a Midianite. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. The misconception is that Zipporah was Ethiopian and she was not, she was Shemitic. The last time the Bible mentions Zipporah is when she is at Mount Horeb with her family, according to Daily Journal. Most people know that Moses had a staff which he carried when he performed the eleven miracles against Pharaoh in Egypt. Both possibilities appear in the midrashic expositions. He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). of Moses' wife. "Zipporah: Bible." 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. [26] She is the main character in Marek Halter's novel Zipporah, Wife of Moses (2005).[27]. Higger], chap. When Laban gave him his daughters, Jacob deceived him and fled far away. 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. God blessed them with children. Other shepherds arrived and drove the girls away, so that they could water their own flocks first. Rabbah 1:32). 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. 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. Zipporah. 2:20). This criticism displeases God, who punishes Miriam with Tzaraath (often glossed as leprosy). Moses then left the Ethiopians after forty years of ruler-ship (Jasher 76:5-12). The Meaning Of Maccabees, Is Purgatory A Dogma? 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. Wm. The stick was then taken by Adam (Jasher 77:43) when he was sent out of the Garden of Eden. The Bible records, She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land (Exodus 2:22). She is also described as a practical woman capable of taking action at the right moment. Pharaohs daughter, who raised him, was aware of his heritage when she found him the basket, but raised him anyway. 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. He planted the staff in the garden of his house, and no man could approach it. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. There, Moses stood up for seven young women who were drawing water who were being driven away from the well by shepherds. Detail of Jacob Jordaens' painting "Moses and his Ethiopian Wife Zipporah," c. 1650. A Mosque in the area of Medina, possibly: This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 22:54. Answer: Some think Moses married a woman of a different race than he was. She circumcised her. Moses first wife was Adoniah (Tharbis) and his second wife was Zipporah. Just as Joseph was a Hebrew, with his wife being and Egyptian, yet his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, were Israelites due to their father's line. Saturday Or Sunday? 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). I bless you for the information and now i have an greater understanding of the life of Moses and his wifes. I also came across the fact that he had been married to an Ethiopian woman and it had me looking into the relationship between the Midians and the Ethiopians. Its worth reading and very insightful. 99). God's anger led [] Im pretty sure it was a source of inspiration for that popular story line. In the Bible, women are often praised when they are obedient but they sometimes disappear from the text after giving birth or getting married. 31 December 1999. Yael Wife of Heber The Kenite: Midrash and Aggadah, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Why are you confused. 18: . Interpretations differ on whether this Cushite woman[he] was one and the same as Zipporah, or another woman, and whether he was married to them simultaneously (which would make him a polygamist) or successively. A Midianite, a Cushite, or both? The Bloody Bridegroom: The Interpretation of Exodus 4:2426. Aaron goes forth to greet his brother and hugs and kisses him. In return for her good deed, God gave Moses permission to marry her (Exodus 18:13). There are several interesting passages about interactions between Zipporah, her husband, and her in-laws. Additionally, those living in ancient Israel had to be circumcised if they wished to partake of the Passover (Leviticus 25:45 - 46, Exodus 12:43, 45). Other interpreters see the Cushite woman as a second wife, with Miriam and Aaron opposed to the marriage. Nor had I heard of the book of Jasher. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . Why Didn't Moses Enter the Promised Land. In another midrashic account, Jethro agreed to the marriage between Moses and Zipporah on condition that their firstborn would be an idolater (see below). Salem Media Group. Af and Hemah (the destructive angels of wrath and anger) came and swallowed Moses, leaving only his legs. Countertraditions 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. 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. 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. And they said, Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Another tradition explains that the numerical value of Kushit is the same as the Hebrew yafet mareh (beautiful). If we dont study then were only left with half the truth. All in all, we can't say. Ask him in to break bread (Ex. 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). In the Torah, Zipporah was one of the seven daughters of Jethro, a Kenite shepherd who was a priest of Midian. 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? 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). Jethro helped his son-in-law by encouraging him to delegate some of his responsibilities. (Viewed on May 1, 2023) . The Midianites were not Ethiopians, they are actually from the lineage of Abraham who Moses is also a descendant of. : . Shalom. God hates divorce, and wants strong marriages, and communication is part of that. 2:1517). What can her life and her decisions tell believers today about the human condition? Article In the midrashic presentation, Moses took them with him because he wanted them to be with the Israelites when they received the Torah (Ex. The midrash discloses that the existence of normal marital relations is important for a woman, and constitutes a significant part of her femininity and her self-perception. In a third tradition, the initiative to marry Zipporah came from Moses himself. Rabbah 5:5). 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. 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. He came upon the land of Midian and there he met and married one of the daughters of the local priest and stayed for 40 years. So here we see that Moses reigned over the people of Cush. The midrash explains how Moses and Zipporah could have had a son who had not been circumcised. There are some people in the Bible whose lives we only see in bits and pieces, and Zipporah is one of those figures. Zipporah the Midianite was a descendant of Midian, Abraham's son by his third wife Keturah. He read the symbols on it, extended his hand, and took it. The ribbons in her hat resemble a cross. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, when Moses killed a man in Egypt, he rushed to hide among the Midianites. Most focus on the clear teaching that Moses married Zipporah, a Midianite, during his 40 years in the wilderness (having fled from the presence of Pharaoh). Her last years and the circumstances of her death are unknown. Moses therefore fled from Egypt, and arrived in Midian. These scriptures should clear up any misunderstandings you may have had about these different names. We do trust Josephus as a historical source, but we don't know if we can corroborate everything he says. On his journey he took Zipporah and his son Gershom, who was uncircumcised. Reuel's daughter, who became the wife of Moses ( Exodus 2:21).In consequence of the event recorded in Exodus 4:24-26, she and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when so far on the way with Moses toward Egypt, were sent back by him to her own kinsfolk, the Midianites, with whom they sojourned till Moses afterwards joined them ( 18:2-6). Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? This article really cleared things up (so thank you ) but I was confused in regards to you saying that Adoniah and Moses consummated the marriage because in Yasher 74 :31- 38 it explains how he never had sex with her because of Exodus 34:11-16 and genesis 9:22-27. Most probably, the . Shalom. Here where we see in the Book of Jasher the same history documented in the Josephus histories. When he was with Jethro, he saw how fine were her actions. Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 2011. The most common translation is that Moses sent her away, but another grammatically permissible translation is that she sent things or persons, perhaps the announcement of the victory over Amalek. 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. In thanks, Jethro--known as the Priest of Midian--invited him to stay in his camp, and gave him Zipporah to marry. She became the mother of Gershom and Eliezer, Moses' children. Your children are a gift from Yah (Psalms 127:3). 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. Zipporahs actions led to a Talmudic discussion of womens ability to perform circumcision. Another interpretation supporting the opposition to circumcision by women is that Zipporah began the circumcision, but someone else came and completed it (BT Avodah Zarah 27a). At some point before the exodus from Egypt, Moses sends her and the children away(Exod 18:2). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Corporation, 1967. Your question refers to Numbers 12:1 that states his mate was a Cushite, a term often used to refer to African nations. of This article helped to throw more light on issues and matters concerning one of the Biblical figures Moses. Eventually Reuel the Midianite ended up with the stick after the death of Joseph. No sooner was the agreement made, but it took effect immediately; and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians, he gave thanks to God, and consummated his marriage, and led the Egyptians back to their own land. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. 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. The underlying aim of the midrashim that recount how Zipporahs beauty was preserved in her old age is to aggrandize Moses. Zipporah lived a fascinating life, getting to travel great distances, and being in an inter-cultural relationship. 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). The first sign of trouble came when Moses set off to Egypt after forty years of exile. After researching this, I have found this statement was true, but not in the way that most people think. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. But did Moses have a second wife? Then at the age of sixty-six he went to the land of Midian and married Zipporah the Midianite. Testamentum 43 (1993): 495518. Their parting took place on the way, following the encounter with Aaron. Part of why God cursed Miriam with leprosy was because Moses would not stand up to her. The most popular incident is when Moses is challenged by Aaron and Miriam, because of his marriage to an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1). There is no information about how Zipporah felt about it, and she is still a mystery in many ways. He asks him: Moses, where were you all these years? To which Moses answers: In Midian. Aaron further asks him: Who are these children and women with you? Moses replies: My wife and my sons. Aaron continued to question him: And where are you taking them? The answer: To Egypt. Aaron then tells him: We are grieving for the first ones [the Israelites who are enslaved in Egypt], and now shall we grieve for these, as well? Moses accordingly orders Zipporah: Go to your fathers house. Zipporah then departs for her fathers home, taking her two sons (Mehilta de-Rabbi Ishmael, Masekhta de-Amalek, Yitro 1). The purpose of Patriarchs having multiple wives was to produce babies, not because of lustful desires. Your question refers to Numbers 12:1 that states his mate was a Cushite, a term often used to refer to African nations. 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. 18, before the Giving of the Torah, which is immediately presented in the following chapters (Ex. According toU.S. News and World Report, removing the foreskin was mandatory among Hebrews, as God had told Abraham. Zipporah found very this difficult and she Miriam, forming a bond of feminine solidarity as Miriam lent an attentive ear and tried to help. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. It is always good to study the Scriptures deeper and further. He knew God wanted his son circumcised, and Zipporah felt forced to take action. Jacob was alone and wrestled with the angel all night; Moses is with his wife, who comes to his rescue. 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. Yocheved was the daughter of Levi, Jacob 's son. This is the first time I have heard that Moses had an Ethiopian wife! The next documented moment in Zipporahs life came after the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Many of us are familiar with Moses' wife, Zipporah. 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. The situation remains unclear to us. in the Bible: A Feminist Approach. Zipporah, in contrast, was a Cushite in her poverty and a Cushite with regal status. Zipporah was the wife of Moses. At some point, God told Moses to bring his family to Egypt in order to free his people. 31 And they placed the royal crown upon his head, and they gave him for a wife Adoniah the Cushite queen, wife of Kikianus. Her right hand is to her chest. 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. [3] In Exodus 2:18, Jethro is also referred to as Reuel, and in the Book of Judges ( Judges 4:11) as Hobab. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, I have been a sojournerin a foreign land), and the name of the other, Eliezer(for he said, The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh). During his education he learned somehow that he was a Hebrew, and his sense of concern and curiosity impelled him to visit his people. He originally had a wife named Zipporah who was the daughter of a Midianite priest (Exodus 2:15 - 21). 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. The Rabbis explain that Moses sent Zipporah to her fathers house in Midian only out of fear that Egyptian servitude would harm her. In Numbers 12:1, Moses wife became the apparent reason for Miriam and Aaron's rebellion against Moses. I trust Him. Zipporah had compassion on Moses and brought him bread and water. 11) with the conversation between Miriam and Aaron (chap. But no children are ever recorded for a second wife of Moses. [4] Hobab is also the name of Jethro's son in Numbers 10:29 . "Zipporah: Midrash and Aggadah." The members of Mosess family are not mentioned in the narrative of the ten plagues and the Exodus from Egypt and reappear only in the family reunion in Ex. 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. Blessings to you and your family, Shalom! 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. See e.g. They had several rough patches in their marriage in part because of Moses devotion to his responsibilities. 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. Miriam learned of this after the appointment of the seventy elders (Num. The stick was made of Sapphire (Jasher 77:39) and not the traditional wood normally expected. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. 2:21). Yet another exegetical tradition explains that Zipporah differed from other women in her deeds (BT Moed Katan 16b). At the age of forty, Moses killed an Egyptian he saw abusing a Hebrew. 42 And this is the stick with which all the works of our God were performed, after he had created heaven and earth, and all the host of them, seas, rivers and all their fishes. 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. Her words stopped the attack against Moses. [19] It has been expressed by prominent Druze such as Amal Nasser el-Din[20] and Salman Tarif, who was a prominent Druze shaykh, that this makes the Druze related to the Jews through marriage. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb. And Moses cried to the Lord, O God, please heal herplease. But the Lord said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? [citation needed], Moses' wife is referred to as a "Cushite woman" in Numbers 12. After the Giving of the Torah, a life of sexual abstinence was imposed on Moses. 31 December 1999. The name Tharbis can not be found in the book of Exodus, but you can find it below in other scriptures. The Rabbis ascribe many traits to her; they considered her different than other women, in a positive sense, in both appearance and deed. 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. but I was confused in regards to you saying that Adoniah and Moses consummated the marriage?? 45 And when Abraham had given all he had to his son Isaac, he also gave to him this stick. The girls answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock." This story sounds strikingly similar to the story of Excalibur. Before arriving in Egypt, he sent his family to their home country, and he possibly even married another woman. Unlike the human tendency to want or expect perfection in religious heroes, historic Judaism simply asked that its heroes do more good than evil. With the words to break bread" (implying marriage), Jethro hinted that Moses might marry one of them. Rabbah 5:8). Intercultural/interracial marriages can work and are Biblical: Zipporah and Moses came from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. Mercy and compassion were to be shown to aliens. Now we know that Moses was married to Adoniah (Tharbis), by just simply understanding the history of Israel, we can say that Moses was married twice. Women in Scripture. 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). He spends several decades there before he returns to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Kadari, Tamar. Zipporah was called a Cushite, meaning at least part if not all of her heritage was from Africa.