Ziphron

ZIPHRON, or Zephronia, a City which was to the North of the Land of Promise, Numb face of the earth. And the Lord spake sudxxxiv. 9. It is now quite unknown. St. Jerome upon Ezek. lxvii. says, that it is Zephyrium denly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and in Cilicia. unto Miriam, Come out ye three, into the tabernacle of the congregation. Thither they went, where God reproved Aaron and Miriam, and justified the Conduct of Moses. Zipporah seems to have been quite out of the question. And this is all we find of her in Scripture. The Rabbins tell us, that Jethro at first had Moses clapt into Prison, with an Intention of sending him back to Pharoah; but that Zipporah falling in love with Moses, procured his Liberty. Jethro then consented that Moses should have Zipporah in Marriage, if he could pull up a Twig of Saphir that was planted in his Garden. For Jethro had published through the whole Country, that whoever could pluck up that Twig should marry his Daughter. Many had offered themselves, and had attempted it in vain: No one could pull up this Twig: But Moses did it presently, and obtained Zipporah for his Wife. The Twig of Sapkir, here spoke of, was, as they say, inscribed with the sacred Name Jehovah; and it was the same that Moses used as a Wand, by which he performed all the Miracles related in Scripture. The same Authors tell us, that the Murmuring of Aaron and Miriam, now mentioned, was occasioned by this, because Moses had separated himself from his Wife, who was a very handsome Woman. Some think, that the Wife, who gave occasion to this Murmuring, was not Zipporah the Daughter of Jethro, but Tharbis, the Wife of the King of Ethiopia, whom Moses had forsaken. Lastly, others will have it, that Aaron and Miriam were uneasy, because Moses had married Zipporah, who was a Stranger, fearing that such an Example would be attended with evil Consequences in Israel. They called her Cushite, or Ethiopian, because Midian was either in the Land of Cush, or very near it. Hab. iii. 7.Habakkuk seems to put Cushan, or Cush, as synonymous to Midian. But, finally, others, with more Reason, are of opinion, that Zipporah herself had given occasion to this Quarrel, valuing herself upon the Favours that God vouchsafed to Moses. The Answer of Moses and Miriam seems to insinuate something like this, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not also spoken by us? See the Commentators upon Numb. xii. 1, 2, 3.

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