Please Help! Why Do People Say That Moses Had More Than One Wife?

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

** Please help with document references **

I have heard many people state almost as if it's a known biblical fact, that Moses had more than one wife. I am somewhat knowledgeable of the scriptures and have never discovered that Moses had any other wife than Zipporah of whom he also had two sons.

If anyone is familiar with the instruction of Moses having multiple wives, can you please provide the bible verses that show where Moses had any other wife than Zipporah? And please list any other extra biblical verses or source pages that provide evidence of this asserted truth that Moses had more than one wife.

 

[loveme1]

Why are you so worried my dear?

 

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

I have heard many people state almost as if it's a known biblical fact, that Moses had more than one wife. I am somewhat knowledgeable of the scriptures and have never discovered that Moses had any other wife than Zipporah of whom he also had two sons.

Exodus 18:1-6
(1) When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
(2) Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,
(3) And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:
(4) And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:
(5) And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:
(6) And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

 

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

I have heard many people state almost as if it's a known biblical fact, that Moses had more than one wife. I am somewhat knowledgeable of the scriptures and have never discovered that Moses had any other wife than Zipporah of whom he also had two sons.

1Chronicles 23:14-15
(14) Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
(15) The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.

 

[Ugly]

Don't believe I've ever heard such a claim.

 

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

Why are you so worried my dear?

Not worried at all. The scriptures teach, "Be anxious for nothing." (Philippians 4:6)

However as a bible student I would like to know what those who believe and teach this are seeing to come to their conclusion. I'm only concerned to evaluate their sources to make sure that there are no bible scriptures that I have inadvertently omitted in discerning the matter.

And if out of this evaluation period no more solid bible evidence is provided, then I will be more confident in any future discussion that this assertion 'that Moses had more than one wife' is not biblically accurate.

The truth of the matter is important to me because the scriptures teach that we should prove all things and that we should not bear false witness. Do you think it not a good thing that I should take such care?

1Th 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Mar 10:19
You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.

Rom 13:9
For this, You shalt not commit adultery, You shalt not kill, You shalt not steal, You shalt not bear false witness, You shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shalt love your neighbor as yourself.

 

[Desertsrose]

** Please help with document references **

I have heard many people state almost as if it's a known biblical fact, that Moses had more than one wife. I am somewhat knowledgeable of the scriptures and have never discovered that Moses had any other wife than Zipporah of whom he also had two sons.

If anyone is familiar with the instruction of Moses having multiple wives, can you please provide the bible verses that show where Moses had any other wife than Zipporah? And please list any other extra biblical verses or source pages that provide evidence of this asserted truth that Moses had more than one wife.

Hi ATWWG,

From got questions dot org.

The Bible does not say much about Moses’ wife, Zipporah. We know that she was the daughter of a man called Jethro (or Reuel), who was a priest in the land of Midian (Exodus 3:1; cf. 2:18). The Bible does not explicitly say that Moses had more than one wife. However, Numbers 12:1 leads many to surmise another wife: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” The question of the number of Moses’ wives hinges on the identity of this Cushite (or Ethiopian) woman. Is this a reference to Zipporah? Or is this another woman?

First, some background. While he was still in Egypt, Moses killed an Egyptian guard who was assaulting a Hebrew slave, and he hid the body. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. When he got to Midian, he sat down by a well, and there he encountered a family living in that area. The priest of Midian had seven daughters, shepherdesses who came to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds tried to drive the women away, but Moses fought the shepherds off and helped the women, even drawing water for their animals. The seven reported this heroic action to their father, and he asked Moses to come and eat with his family. Sometime later, Moses was married to Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16–22).

In later chapters Reuel is called Jethro. There is no explanation for this name change, but the title “priest of Midian” accompanies both names, and he is called Moses’ father-in-law, so it is safe to assume this was the same man. The only other possibility is that there were two priests of Midian, one called Jethro and one called Reuel and that Moses had married a daughter from each family—but that would be very unlikely.

More evidence that Moses only had one wife is found in Exodus 4:20: “Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt.” Wife is singular, and there is no mention of any other wife or wives that Moses had. On the way to Egypt, Zipporah circumcised their son and thus saved her husband’s life—Moses had neglected to obey the Lord in this matter, and the Lord would have killed Moses had not Zipporah intervened (Exodus 4:24–26). After this event, it seems that Moses sent Zipporah and his sons back home to stay with Jethro. We don’t encounter Zipporah again until after the exodus when she returns to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 18).

That brings us to Numbers 12:1 and the reference to Moses’ marriage to the Cushite, or Ethiopian. It is possible, though not probable, that the Cushite is Zipporah. Arguing against that possibility are two facts: 1) the link between Midianites and Ethiopians is very difficult to trace convincingly; and 2) the objection to the marriage raised by Miriam and Aaron seems to indicate a recent event. 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. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried.

Some see in Moses’ marriages to two Gentiles as prefiguring the gospel message going into all the world, blessing even the Gentiles (see Acts 1:8). Zipporah the Midianite was related to the Israelites but only through Abraham’s son by a concubine (Genesis 25:1–2); the Cushite was farther removed from the lineage of Israel. Moses’ marriages expanded in a widening circle into the Gentile world, helping to show that in Abraham’s seedall the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

 

[maxwel]

I think the real issue is about WHO is making these silly claims.

Whenever people make silly claims about scripture, they always have some weird personal beliefs... and they're tying to create support for their beliefs.


I think that holds true about 100% of the time.

 

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

Hi ATWWG,

From got questions dot org.

The Bible does not say much about Moses’ wife, Zipporah. We know that she was the daughter of a man called Jethro (or Reuel), who was a priest in the land of Midian (Exodus 3:1; cf. 2:18). The Bible does not explicitly say that Moses had more than one wife. However, Numbers 12:1 leads many to surmise another wife: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” The question of the number of Moses’ wives hinges on the identity of this Cushite (or Ethiopian) woman. Is this a reference to Zipporah? Or is this another woman?

First, some background. While he was still in Egypt, Moses killed an Egyptian guard who was assaulting a Hebrew slave, and he hid the body. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. When he got to Midian, he sat down by a well, and there he encountered a family living in that area. The priest of Midian had seven daughters, shepherdesses who came to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds tried to drive the women away, but Moses fought the shepherds off and helped the women, even drawing water for their animals. The seven reported this heroic action to their father, and he asked Moses to come and eat with his family. Sometime later, Moses was married to Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16–22).

In later chapters Reuel is called Jethro. There is no explanation for this name change, but the title “priest of Midian” accompanies both names, and he is called Moses’ father-in-law, so it is safe to assume this was the same man. The only other possibility is that there were two priests of Midian, one called Jethro and one called Reuel and that Moses had married a daughter from each family—but that would be very unlikely.

More evidence that Moses only had one wife is found in Exodus 4:20: “Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt.” Wife is singular, and there is no mention of any other wife or wives that Moses had. On the way to Egypt, Zipporah circumcised their son and thus saved her husband’s life—Moses had neglected to obey the Lord in this matter, and the Lord would have killed Moses had not Zipporah intervened (Exodus 4:24–26). After this event, it seems that Moses sent Zipporah and his sons back home to stay with Jethro. We don’t encounter Zipporah again until after the exodus when she returns to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 18).

That brings us to Numbers 12:1 and the reference to Moses’ marriage to the Cushite, or Ethiopian. It is possible, though not probable, that the Cushite is Zipporah. Arguing against that possibility are two facts: 1) the link between Midianites and Ethiopians is very difficult to trace convincingly; and 2) the objection to the marriage raised by Miriam and Aaron seems to indicate a recent event. 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. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried.

Some see in Moses’ marriages to two Gentiles as prefiguring the gospel message going into all the world, blessing even the Gentiles (see Acts 1:8). Zipporah the Midianite was related to the Israelites but only through Abraham’s son by a concubine (Genesis 25:1–2); the Cushite was farther removed from the lineage of Israel. Moses’ marriages expanded in a widening circle into the Gentile world, helping to show that in Abraham’s seedall the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Thanks Desertrose, much rep deserved (and rep given) for your very relevant post.

This is the reason I asked the question, to get a more robust understanding of the issues on both sides; and I encourage others with similar relevancy to the topic to please feel free to respond.

 

[dcontroversal]

This is probably why the confusion...

Moses stayed and lived with the Midianite and his family. Reuel gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage and, in due time, she gave birth to Gershom and then to Eliezer. The Book of Numbers 12:1 calls the wife of Moses "a Cushite woman", whereas Moses's wife Zipporah is usually described as hailing from Midian

 

[MarcR]

Hi ATWWG,

From got questions dot org.

The Bible does not say much about Moses’ wife, Zipporah. We know that she was the daughter of a man called Jethro (or Reuel), who was a priest in the land of Midian (Exodus 3:1; cf. 2:18). The Bible does not explicitly say that Moses had more than one wife. However, Numbers 12:1 leads many to surmise another wife: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” The question of the number of Moses’ wives hinges on the identity of this Cushite (or Ethiopian) woman. Is this a reference to Zipporah? Or is this another woman?

First, some background. While he was still in Egypt, Moses killed an Egyptian guard who was assaulting a Hebrew slave, and he hid the body. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. When he got to Midian, he sat down by a well, and there he encountered a family living in that area. The priest of Midian had seven daughters, shepherdesses who came to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds tried to drive the women away, but Moses fought the shepherds off and helped the women, even drawing water for their animals. The seven reported this heroic action to their father, and he asked Moses to come and eat with his family. Sometime later, Moses was married to Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16–22).

In later chapters Reuel is called Jethro. There is no explanation for this name change, but the title “priest of Midian” accompanies both names, and he is called Moses’ father-in-law, so it is safe to assume this was the same man. The only other possibility is that there were two priests of Midian, one called Jethro and one called Reuel and that Moses had married a daughter from each family—but that would be very unlikely.

More evidence that Moses only had one wife is found in Exodus 4:20: “Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt.” Wife is singular, and there is no mention of any other wife or wives that Moses had. On the way to Egypt, Zipporah circumcised their son and thus saved her husband’s life—Moses had neglected to obey the Lord in this matter, and the Lord would have killed Moses had not Zipporah intervened (Exodus 4:24–26). After this event, it seems that Moses sent Zipporah and his sons back home to stay with Jethro. We don’t encounter Zipporah again until after the exodus when she returns to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 18).

That brings us to Numbers 12:1 and the reference to Moses’ marriage to the Cushite, or Ethiopian. It is possible, though not probable, that the Cushite is Zipporah. Arguing against that possibility are two facts: 1) the link between Midianites and Ethiopians is very difficult to trace convincingly; and 2) the objection to the marriage raised by Miriam and Aaron seems to indicate a recent event. 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. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried.

Some see in Moses’ marriages to two Gentiles as prefiguring the gospel message going into all the world, blessing even the Gentiles (see Acts 1:8). Zipporah the Midianite was related to the Israelites but only through Abraham’s son by a concubine (Genesis 25:1–2); the Cushite was farther removed from the lineage of Israel. Moses’ marriages expanded in a widening circle into the Gentile world, helping to show that in Abraham’s seedall the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

When Joseph was sold into Egypt, Egypt was ruled by the Hyskos (Midianite) Pharaohs. The Hyskos dynasty lasted only slightly more than 200 years, and was in place before Joseph was brought to Egypt. When The Hyskos Pharaohs were expelled, the Midianites still controlled lower Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush) with their capitol located at Memphis (Noph). When Moses fled from Pharaoh, He married the daughter of Jethro, Priest of Midian. If Jethro had married a Cushite wife, Zipporah would have properly been considered Cushite.

 

[MarcR]

Hi ATWWG,

From got questions dot org.

The Bible does not say much about Moses’ wife, Zipporah. We know that she was the daughter of a man called Jethro (or Reuel), who was a priest in the land of Midian (Exodus 3:1; cf. 2:18). The Bible does not explicitly say that Moses had more than one wife. However, Numbers 12:1 leads many to surmise another wife: “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.” The question of the number of Moses’ wives hinges on the identity of this Cushite (or Ethiopian) woman. Is this a reference to Zipporah? Or is this another woman?

First, some background. While he was still in Egypt, Moses killed an Egyptian guard who was assaulting a Hebrew slave, and he hid the body. Soon, Moses got word that Pharaoh knew what he had done and was going to kill him, so he fled from Egypt to the land of Midian to avoid prosecution. When he got to Midian, he sat down by a well, and there he encountered a family living in that area. The priest of Midian had seven daughters, shepherdesses who came to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds tried to drive the women away, but Moses fought the shepherds off and helped the women, even drawing water for their animals. The seven reported this heroic action to their father, and he asked Moses to come and eat with his family. Sometime later, Moses was married to Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, the priest of Midian (Exodus 2:16–22).

In later chapters Reuel is called Jethro. There is no explanation for this name change, but the title “priest of Midian” accompanies both names, and he is called Moses’ father-in-law, so it is safe to assume this was the same man. The only other possibility is that there were two priests of Midian, one called Jethro and one called Reuel and that Moses had married a daughter from each family—but that would be very unlikely.

More evidence that Moses only had one wife is found in Exodus 4:20: “Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt.” Wife is singular, and there is no mention of any other wife or wives that Moses had. On the way to Egypt, Zipporah circumcised their son and thus saved her husband’s life—Moses had neglected to obey the Lord in this matter, and the Lord would have killed Moses had not Zipporah intervened (Exodus 4:24–26). After this event, it seems that Moses sent Zipporah and his sons back home to stay with Jethro. We don’t encounter Zipporah again until after the exodus when she returns to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 18).

That brings us to Numbers 12:1 and the reference to Moses’ marriage to the Cushite, or Ethiopian. It is possible, though not probable, that the Cushite is Zipporah. Arguing against that possibility are two facts: 1) the link between Midianites and Ethiopians is very difficult to trace convincingly; and 2) the objection to the marriage raised by Miriam and Aaron seems to indicate a recent event. 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. Much more likely is that Zipporah had died (although her death is not recorded in Scripture) and that Moses had remarried.

Some see in Moses’ marriages to two Gentiles as prefiguring the gospel message going into all the world, blessing even the Gentiles (see Acts 1:8). Zipporah the Midianite was related to the Israelites but only through Abraham’s son by a concubine (Genesis 25:1–2); the Cushite was farther removed from the lineage of Israel. Moses’ marriages expanded in a widening circle into the Gentile world, helping to show that in Abraham’s seedall the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

In later chapters Reuel is called Jethro. Just as Persian kings are often known by 2 names, one being an honorific title and one being a given name; it is more than likely that Jethro is an honorific title of the priesthood. and Reuel is his given name.

 

[valiant]

When Joseph was sold into Egypt, Egypt was ruled by the Hyskos (Midianite) Pharaohs.

This is very doubtful. Joseph was imprisoned before the Hyksos came to Egypt. Nor were the Hyksos Midianites.

The Hyskos dynasty lasted only slightly more than 200 years, and was in place before Joseph was brought to Egypt.

Not in accordance with usual Bible dating, which had Israel in Egypt for 400years.

When The Hyskos Pharaohs were expelled, the Midianites still controlled lower Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush) with their capitol located at Memphis (Noph).

The Amorites not the Midianites.

When Moses fled from Pharaoh, He married the daughter of Jethro, Priest of Midian. If Jethro had married a Cushite wife, Zipporah would have properly been considered Cushite.

No, she would have been considered a Midianite after her father. The marriage to a Cushite (black African) woman was forty year later. Otherwise it would have caused offence much earlier. There is absolutely no reason for doubting a second marriage when Moses was old after the first wife had died,,

 

[posthuman]

i'm of the ((admittedly unstudied)) opinion that Zipporah is Cushite, too.

as to the objection that Numbers 12:1 is referencing a recent marriage - i think that looking at verse 2 ((and the rest of the chapter)) it's not necessarily the case:

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.

And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.
​

this could easily be understood to mean that Miriam & Aaron had a longstanding tiff with Moses over Zipporah, and that tension showed itself at the time beings spoken of in the form of questioning Moses' primacy among the people. that there could any number of interim years implied with word "and" at the beginning of verse 2.

the remaining chapter has little to do with the wife of Moses at all and everything to do with who the Lord had chosen to represent Him with authority: it doesn't seem to be about having a Cushite wife at all. it's reasonable to me, then, that the introduction of this matter with the statement about Moses' wife's heritage is explaining the ultimate source of Aaron & Miriam's resentment, and that the Lord dealt with the issue in the account that follows because of the nature of how that resentment came to be expressed made it the perfect time to address it. God makes it clear at this time that it is He who chooses His own servant, and whether to exalt or bring low them according to His purpose. by doing this He establishes Moses' choice of a wife as a type of Himself too, it being His own prerogative to take a wife of His own choosing - whether it be of the Israel or of Cush - in the same way Christ takes His bride from among Jew and Gentile alike.

might Miriam & Aaron's bitterness with regard to Mrs. Moses have been a longstanding one, but God waited for this time to answer it because it speaks of the glory of the Messiah?

 

[jaybird88]

if Moses had more than one wife, why would it matter?

the big question for me, how do you deal with more than one wife? this would explain why he was always going up that mountain.

 

[Susanna]

if Moses had more than one wife, why would it matter?

the big question for me, how do you deal with more than one wife? this would explain why he was always going up that mountain.

Poor guy. As a former wife I know how hard they can be to handle. LOL.

 

[Nehemiah6]

The Book of Numbers 12:1 calls the wife of Moses "a Cushite woman", whereas Moses's wife Zipporah is usually described as hailing from Midian

Zipporah was probably a Cushite (ancestry) living in Midian (domicile). Same woman. Much ado about nothing.

 

[Nehemiah6]

...the big question for me, how do you deal with more than one wife?

One wife at a time. Just like a long journey. One step at a time.

 

[AndTheWordWasGOD]

When Joseph was sold into Egypt, Egypt was ruled by the Hyskos (Midianite) Pharaohs. The Hyskos dynasty lasted only slightly more than 200 years, and was in place before Joseph was brought to Egypt. When The Hyskos Pharaohs were expelled, the Midianites still controlled lower Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush) with their capitol located at Memphis (Noph). When Moses fled from Pharaoh, He married the daughter of Jethro, Priest of Midian. If Jethro had married a Cushite wife, Zipporah would have properly been considered Cushite.

MarcR, Thank you for your input, I have to study the Hyksos dynasties as I'm not too well versed on their histories. Can you please recommend sources that describe the Hyksos as Midianites?

It seems from the bible that Midian was reckoned in a certain relation with Cush in Habakuk (Hab 3:7), which would also seem to lend credence to Zipporah being called a Cushite or Ethiopian:

(Brenton) Because of troubles I looked upon the tents of the Ethiopians: the tabernacles also of the land of Madiam shall be dismayed.

(CEV) The tents of desert tribes in Cushan and Midian were ripped apart.

(ERV) I saw that the cities of Cushan were in trouble and that the houses of Midian trembled with fear.

(GNB) I saw the people of Cushan afraid and the people of Midian tremble.
​

 

[MarcR]

This is very doubtful. Joseph was imprisoned before the Hyksos came to Egypt. Nor were the Hyksos Midianites.




Not in accordance with usual Bible dating, which had Israel in Egypt for 400years.



The Amorites not the Midianites.



No, she would have been considered a Midianite after her father. The marriage to a Cushite (black African) woman was forty year later. Otherwise it would have caused offence much earlier. There is absolutely no reason for doubting a second marriage when Moses was old after the first wife had died,,

This is very doubtful. Joseph was imprisoned before the Hyksos came to Egypt. Nor were the Hyksos Midianites.

Joseph was imprisoned before the Hyksos came to Egypt

On what basis do you say so?

Nor were the Hyksos Midianites. None of the encyclopedic references to them express any certainty about who they were.
However all agree they had Semitic names, and that they were monotheistic. The Southern kingdom in Memphis was definitely Midianite, and was known to have an affinity with the Northern Kingdom. Their ready acceptance of Joseph, and later of Israel is consistent with their being descended from Ketura. Most Historians tend to speculate where data is inconclusive. My association of them with the Midianite kingdom in Southern Egypt is at least as valid as anyone else's.

Not in accordance with usual Bible dating, which had Israel in Egypt for 400years.

They were indeed in Egypt for 400years; but they were not enslaved by the Hyskos, who ruled Egypt not more than 100 years after Joseph died.

The Amorites not the Midianites. on what authority? Perhaps the admitted speculation by Britanica?

No, she would have been considered a Midianite after her father. The marriage to a Cushite (black African) woman was forty year later. Otherwise it would have caused offence much earlier. There is absolutely no reason for doubting a second marriage when Moses was old after the first wife had died,

The Jewish people have always reckoned national descent after the descent of the mother; which is why Paul had Timothy circumcised

Ac 16:1-3
16 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
KJV