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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Understanding of Numbers 12:1 | Ex 4:25 | Makarios | 210857 | ||
Greetings BMyers, Excellent question! The Bible does not explicitly say whether or not the wife of Moses in Numbers 12:1 is in fact Zipporah, but this passage could be speaking of Zipporah or of a different wife. Here is some commentary on this verse: "12, 1: Cushite woman: apparently Zipporah, the Midianitess, is meant; cf Ex 2, 21. Perhaps the term is used here merely in the sense of "despised foreigner." (1) "12:1 Ethiopian. Ethiopia, S of Egypt, was inhabited by the descendants of Cush, the firstborn son of Ham (Gen. 10:6,7). Although the term "Ethiopian" could have been used concerning Zipporah, Moses' first wife, it seems more likely that Moses had remarried after the death of Zipporah. The marriage to the Ethiopian woman had been recent and furnished the pretext for the attack of Miriam and Aaron. Since Miriam is mentioned first, she probably was the instigator of the attack against Moses." (2) "12:1 Cushite woman...he had married. Cush was the first son of Ham, the father of the southernmost peoples known to the Hebrews (Gen. 10:6-7), living in the southern Nile valley. Moses' wife Zipporah may be referred to here (Ex 2:15-22); if so, the term "Cushite" is used in contempt of her Midianite ancestry. It is more likely, however, that the reference is to a new wife taken by Moses, perhaps after the death of his first wife. The attack on the woman was a pretext; its focus was the prophetic gift of Moses and his special relationship with the Lord (v. 2)." (3) The Bible does not say that Zipporah had died or that Moses had taken on another wife. Also, we know from Exodus 18:2-3 that Zipporah returned to Moses with her two sons, and only two sons of Moses are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:15-17 (Gershom and Eliezer). Therefore, since no other sons of Moses are mentioned (and no other wife), then the best Biblical conclusion that I can make (absent any speculation) is that Numbers 12:1 is very possibly speaking of Zipporah as scripture itself does not support any other conclusion. Blessings to you, Nolan (Makarios) Sources: (1) pg. 145, copyright 1992, Saint Joseph Edition of The New American Bible, Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York (2) pg. 214, copyright 1997, The MacArthur Study Bible, Word Publishing (NKJV) (3) pg. 195, copyright 1999, The Zondervan NASB Study Bible, Zondervan Corporation |
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2 | Understanding of Numbers 12:1 | Ex 4:25 | BMyers | 210861 | ||
Thanks for the info. Brad |
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