Moses Sends Zipporah and Sons to Jethro's Home

Moses sent his wife Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, back to her father Jethro's home in Midian at some point after their initial journey toward Egypt ^{[1, 4, 16]}. This event is inferred from Exodus 18:2, which states that Jethro "took Zipporah the wife of Moses after her sending away" ^[1]. Zipporah was the daughter of Reuel, also known as Jethro, who was a priest or prince of Midian ^{[3, 5]}. Moses had married Zipporah during his forty years in Midian, where he served as a shepherd for Jethro's flocks after fleeing Egypt ^{[2, 8]}.

The exact timing and reasons for Moses sending Zipporah and their sons back to Midian are not explicitly detailed in the biblical text, leading to various interpretations. One common understanding is that Moses sent them back during his journey from Midian to Egypt, following the incident where the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him, which was averted by Zipporah's circumcision of their son ^{[4, 12, 14]}. Flavius Josephus records that Moses took Zipporah and their children, Gershom and Eleazer, with him when he initially set out for Egypt after Pharaoh's death ^[6]. However, the subsequent mention of Zipporah being "sent away" suggests a separation occurred later ^{[1, 14]}.

Some scholars propose that Zipporah returned to her father's house shortly after the circumcision incident described in Exodus 4:24-26 ^{[4, 9]}. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra suggests that after Eliezer was circumcised and healed, Zipporah and the children returned to her father ^[9]. This interpretation implies that the event caused Zipporah to be alarmed, leading her to return to her family ^[12].

Another perspective is that Moses, foreseeing the dangers and hardships of confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites out of Egypt, sent his family back to Jethro for their safety ^{[12, 16]}. The intense confrontation with Pharaoh might have made Moses fear for their lives ^[16]. John Gill notes that Moses took his wife and children with him upon his call to Egypt, but "upon an affair which occurred by the way, he sent them back" ^[14]. This "affair" is generally understood to be the circumcision incident ^[14]. Ramban (Nachmanides) also points out that since Scripture previously mentioned Moses taking his wife and sons to Egypt, it became necessary to state that she was in her father's house, implying Moses had sent her there ^[15].

Regardless of the precise timing, Zipporah and the children remained with Jethro until he brought them to Moses in the wilderness ^{[4, 10]}. This reunion occurred while the Israelites were encamped at Sinai, shortly after their victory over Amalek ^[2]. Jethro, having heard of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, traveled to meet Moses, bringing Zipporah and their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer ^{[2, 10, 13]}. The meeting took place at the "mount of God" ^[2].

Upon Jethro's arrival, Moses went out to meet him, bowed down, kissed him, and brought him into his tent ^[10]. Moses then recounted to Jethro "all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them" ^[2]. Jethro rejoiced at these accounts, praising God and acknowledging the Lord's greatness above all gods ^[10]. He then offered burnt offerings and sacrifices to God, and shared a meal with Moses and the elders of Israel ^[10].

The return of Zipporah and the sons is a significant moment, marking the reunification of Moses's immediate family after a period of separation during the critical events of the Exodus. Jethro's role in this reunion highlights his continued relationship with Moses and his recognition of God's power ^[15]. The text emphasizes Jethro's father-in-law status, which is mentioned multiple times in Exodus 18, possibly to honor him or distinguish him ^[11].

The names of Moses's sons are also significant: Gershom, meaning "a stranger there," reflecting Moses's status as an alien in Midian (Exodus 2:22), and Eliezer, meaning "my God is help," commemorating God's deliverance of Moses from Pharaoh (Exodus 18:4) ^[6]. These names serve as reminders of Moses's personal journey and God's intervention in his life.

Later biblical tradition mentions a "Cushite woman" whom Moses married (Numbers 12:1) ^[7]. Some scholars have speculated that Zipporah may have died by this time, or that the "Cushite woman" refers to Zipporah herself, given that Midianites were sometimes associated with Cushites ^[7]. However, the primary narrative in Exodus focuses on Zipporah as Moses's wife and the mother of his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer ^{[3, 8]}. The reunion with Jethro and his family underscores the importance of family ties and the support Moses received during his leadership of Israel.

Sources

Exodus “Exodus 18:2 (LEB) — And Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, took Zipporah the wife of Moses after her sending away,”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jethro — His excellence, or gain, a prince or priest of Midian, who succeeded his father Reuel. Moses spent forty years after his exile from the Egyptian court as keeper of Jethro's flocks. While the Israelites were encamped at Sinai, and soon after their victory over Amalek, Jethro came to meet Moses, bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons. They met at the "mount of God," and "Moses told him all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh" (Ex. 18:8). On the following day Jethro, observing the multiplicity of the duties devolving on Moses, advised him to appoint subord”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Zipporah, Or Zipporah — daughter of Reuel or Jethro, the priest of Midian, wife of Moses and mother of his two sons Gershom and Eliezer. (Exodus 2:21; 4:25; 18:2) comp. Exod 18:6 (B.C. 1530.) The only incident recorded in her life is that of the circumcision of Gershom. (Exodus 4:24-28)”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Zipporah — A female bird. Reuel's daughter, who became the wife of Moses (Ex. 2:21). In consequence of the event recorded in Ex. 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).”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jethro — (his excellence) was priest or prince of Midian. Moses married his daughter Zipporah. (B.C. 1530.) On account if his local knowledge he was entreated to remain with the Israelites throughout their journey to Canaan. (Numbers 10:31,33) (He is called [717]Raguel, Or Reuel, [718]Reuel in (Exodus 2:18) And [719]Raguel, Or Reuel in (Numbers 10:29), The same word int he original for both). Reuel is probably his proper name, and Jethro his official title.--ED.)”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 13, section 1: . How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh. 1. So Moses, when he understood that the Pharaoh, in whose reign he fled away, was dead, asked leave of Raguel to go to Egypt, for the benefit of his own people. And he took with him Zipporah, the daughter of Raguel, whom he had married, and the children he had by her, Gersom and Eleazer, and made haste into Egypt. Now the former of those names, Gersom, in the Hebrew tongue, signifies that he was in a strange land; and Eleazer, that, by the assistance of the God of his father”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ethiopian woman — The wife of Moses (Num. 12:1). It is supposed that Zipporah, Moses' first wife (Ex. 2:21), was now dead. His marriage of this "woman" descended from Ham gave offence to Aaron and Miriam.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Moses — (Heb. Mosheh, "drawn," i.e. from the water; in the Coptic it means "saved from the water"), the legislator of the Jewish people, and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. The immediate pedigree of Moses is as follows: Levi was the father of: Gershon-- Kohath-- Merari Kohath was the father of: Amram = Jochebed Amram = Jochebed was the father of: Hur = Miriam-- Aaron = Elisheba-- Moses = Zipporah Aaron = Elisheba was the father of: Nadab-- Abihu-- Eleazar-- Ithamar Eleazar was the father of: Phineas Moses = Zipporah was the father of: Gershom-- ”
Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 4:20: AND HE RETURNED TO THE LAND OF EGYPT. I.e., with those mentioned [at the beginning of the verse, namely, his wife and his sons]. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that the expression, and he returned to the land of Egypt , means that Moses alone returned. When he was met by G-d, 301 Verse 24. Ibn Ezra refers to the language of the verse: and the Eternal met him . See above, Note 298. Eliezer was circumcised, and when he was healed, Zipporah together with her children returned to her father. This [explanation of Ibn Ezra] is possible, for due to the fact that Elie”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 18 (introduction): Jethro, called the father-in-law of Moses, hearing of the deliverance which God had granted to Israel, Exo 18:1, took Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and brought them to Moses, when the Israelites were encamped near Horeb, Exo 18:2-5. He sends to Moses, announcing his arrival, Exo 18:6. Moses goes out to meet him, Exo 18:7, and gives him a history of God's dealings with the Israelites, Exo 18:8. Jethro greatly rejoices, and makes striking observations on the power and goodness of God, Exo 18:9-11. He offers burnt-offerings and sacrifices”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 18:5: And Jethro, Moses's father in law,.... This is the third time he is so called in the chapter already, and many more times besides after in it; the reason of which seems to be, either to distinguish him from another of the same name, or to do him honour, that he should be in such a relation to so great and distinguished a man as Moses now was: came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness; not with his own sons and wife, but with the sons and wife of Moses; Zipporah and her sons, as before related; with those he came into the wilderness of Arabia, wh”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 18:2: 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. It is however possible that Moses, foreseeing the troubles to which his wife and children were likely to be exposed had he taken them down to Egypt, sent them back to his father-in-law till it should please God to deliver his people. Jethro, no”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 18 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 18 This chapter gives an account of Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, with Zipporah his daughter, the wife of Moses, and her two sons, meeting him in the wilderness, who was kindly received by him, Exo 18:1 and on Moses' relating the great things God had done for Israel, Jethro expressed his joy on that account, gave praise to God, offered sacrifice, and kept a feast with the elders of Israel, Exo 18:8, and observing the constant and fatiguing business Moses had on his hands from morning to evening in judging the people, Exo 18:13, h”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 18:2: Then Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses's wife,.... When he had heard of the above things, he determined to pay Moses a visit, and congratulate him on that account; and he took his daughter, the wife of Moses, along with him, to deliver her to her husband, to share with him in his cares and troubles; as to partake with him of his honours and dignity, so to bear part with him in his burdens, so far as she was capable of: after he had sent her back: upon his call and mission to Egypt, he took his wife and children with him; but upon an affair which oc”
Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 18:2: AFTER HE HAD SENT HER AWAY. Because Scripture had [previously] mentioned, And Moses took his wife and his sons… and he returned to the land of Egypt , 60 Exodus 4:20. it became necessary to state here that she was in her father’s house, as Moses had sent her there. It is possible that Scripture is stating that Jethro took [Zipporah, Moses’s wife], to return her to him although he had sent her away. Having heard all that G-d had done for Moses , 60 Verse 1. he thought that it was now time for her to follow the king wherever he would go.”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 18:1: 18:1-12 Moses had apparently sent his wife and children back from Egypt at some point to stay with his father-in-law. In the intense confrontation with Pharaoh, Moses might have been afraid for their lives. Jethro now came to meet Moses and the Israelites, bringing Moses’ family with him (18:2-6). In the context of the visit, Moses gave him a report, and Jethro was brought to faith through the testimony of the Lord’s work.”

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