Zipporah

How Nave’s arranged it

• Wife of MosesExodus 2:16–22
• Reproaches MosesExodus 4:25Exodus 4:26
• Separates from Moses, is brought again to him by her fatherExodus 18:2–6
• Miriam and Aaron upbraid Moses concerningNumbers 12:1

The passages, in Bible order (5)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 5 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 2:16–22

   Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 2:16–221 voice

   “The priest of Midian - Or prince, or both; for the original כהן cohen has both meanings. See it explained at large at Gen 15:18 (note). The transaction here very nearly resembles that mentioned Genesis 29 (note) concerning Jacob and Rachel.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 2:16–22→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 4:25

   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.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 4:251 voice

   “Sharp stone - Not “knife,” as in the margin. Zipporah used a piece of flint, in accordance with the usage of the patriarchs. The Egyptians never used bronze or steel in the preparation of mummies because stone was regarded as a purer and more sacred material than metal. Cast it at his feet - Showing at once her abhorrence of the rite, and her feeling that by it she had saved her husband’s life. A bloody husband - Literally, “a husband of blood,” or “bloods.” The meaning is: The marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 4:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Exodus 4:26

   So the LORD let him alone. (When she said, “bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.)

   ›Commentary on Exodus 4:261 voice

   “So he let him go - i. e. God withdrew His visitation from Moses. Moses sent Zipporah and her children back to Jethro before he went to Egypt, Exo 18:2. The journey would have been delayed had he waited for the healing of the child.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 4:26→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Exodus 18:2–6

   After Moses had sent back his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro had received her,

   ›Commentary on Exodus 18:2–61 voice

   “After he had sent her back - Why Zipporah and her two sons returned to Midian, is not certainly known. From the transaction recorded Exo 4:20, Exo 4:24, it seems as if she had been alarmed at the danger to which the life of one of her sons had been exposed, and fearing worse evils, left her husband and returned to her father.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 18:2–6→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Numbers 12:1

   Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife.

   ›Commentary on Numbers 12:12 voices

   “Zipporah, who is here called an Ethiopian, in the Hebrew a Cushite, because she was a Midianite: the word Cush being generally used in scripture, not for Ethiopia properly so called below Egypt, but for Arabia.

   “Miriam, as a prophetess (compare Exo 15:20-21) no less than as the sister of Moses and Aaron, took the first rank among the women of Israel; and Aaron may be regarded as the ecclesiastical head of the whole nation. But instead of being grateful for these high dignities they challenged the special vocation of Moses and the exclusive authority which God had assigned to him. Miriam was the instigator, from the fact that her name stands conspicuously first Num 12:1, and that the punishment Num 12:10 fell on her alone.

   Everything gathered on Numbers 12:1→

   Verse page →Original language →