The Cushite Woman - Tzipporah, wife of Moses

Tzipporah, the wife of Moses, is referred to as a Cushite. Why is she described as a Cushite when she actually was a Midianite?

The Cushites historically were a dark-skinned people. A dark-skinned woman is a rare visage in the Torah; thus, the Torah is metaphorically describing that Tziporah was unusual in her deeds. (Talmud, Moed Katan 16b)

Commentaries explain that just as a dark-skinned person is immediately noticeable, so too an individual described as a Cushite possesses a character that is obvious and clear to all. (Ben Yehoyada, ibid.)

What was so great about Tzipporah? She was exceptionally modest and unassuming in her actions. (Talmid Rabeinu Yechiel of Paris, ibid.)

Alternatively, she was capable of transforming the physical into spiritual and darkness into light. (Shaloh, Shavuot 242 and 247).

By Eli Raksin

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22 Comments

Thomas Powell Oklahoma August 3, 2023

Thank you I don't know if any gentile is saying these things too ,
You breathe life into written word it's inspiring and educated.
Thank you and may you live and stay on peace Reply

Brannon Hills Danville June 11, 2023

Odd that Miriam was so angry of a dark complexion women that G-D turned her white as snow. Be careful of what you hate. Reply

Rodger Slininger Riverside February 7, 2023

Interesting talk about skin color. I am white and I think black aka dark skin is beautiful. Intelligence: Color seems to have nothing to do with intelligence. Some have it, and some don't. What I am not sure about is why did Zipporah throw the foreskin on or at Moshes feet? And did Moseh really divorce Zipporah? Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman February 9, 2023

in response to Rodger Slininger:

1) There are differing opinions. The Chizkuni says that she put it at his feet as a sort of ward of protection from the angel, showing that the commandment had been done and he should not be harmed.

2) The Midrash Tanchuma (Tzav 13) says that Moshe divorced Tzipporah. He wished to constantly be available to the Divine Presence. See www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/4240317/jewish/The-Untold-Story-of-Zipporah-Wife-of-Moses Reply

Brian R. VA January 16, 2023

The text does not reveal that Zipporah was the Cushite woman spoken of in Numbers 12. Zipporah's father was a Midianite, which means that she was a Midianite as well. Just as Joseph was a Hebrew, with his wife being and Egyptian, yet his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, were Israelites due to their father's line. However, this particular woman was from the nation of Cush.

Let us consider the traditions of Moses marrying Tharbis, the princess of Cush, or of Moses marrying the Queen of Cush, the former wife of Kikianus. The targumic text of identifying this unnamed woman as being beautiful, should not replace her line as being from Cush. Reply

Cynthia Maryland June 11, 2023

in response to Brian R.:

They were both from Ethiopian (Mother) bloodlines. Many Ethiopian women and men were present. I am a descendant of the Falashas of Ethiopia and my history, bloodline in Ethiopia were all Jewish/Israeli and the color of the skin was not an issue during the Exodus. The enemy used Man to create "Skin Color" division. ABBA created all flesh skin colors, all Humans. A Human of any skin color can be a match for a Kidney transplant recipient...because we are All created equal. I am a descendant and my intellect is my gift from ABBA.
My skin color does not offend our creator because he created it. We all have to take a bath or we all will get the same results. ABBA evened the playing field during creation. ABBA knows the heart, to judge a person because of skin color, you judge ABBA ..remember HE is the creator. There is no line to stand in to receive skin color, eyecolor, height...ABBA decides whom and how "HE chooses" to create Humans. Praise HaShem.
Live the SHEMA.🛐 Reply

Brian R. Virginia August 4, 2023

in response to Cynthia:

There is no textual evidence declaring that Zipporah has an Ethiopian mother. 5he usage of Ethiopian comes from a Greek origin, whereas Cush has a Hebrew origin. This unnamed woman is a Cushite because her father was from Cush. There are multiple documented resources and traditions that identify Moses traveling to the nation of Cush before he was 40, having married royalty. Hence, the probability that his wife as spoken in the said passage was another woman apart from Zipporah. Reply

Aryeh February 14, 2022

There is a lot of great midrash on this, but I struggle with the idea the ‘dark skin’ was an unusual sight in that time and place..History it seems more likely it would have been a normal sight… Although it is possible that Midian had some connection to the Cushite empire at the time.. Just my thoughts Reply

Cynthia MD January 24, 2023

in response to Aryeh:

It was an African Nation, the Hieroglyphics tell the story of skin color in that region...how do HUMANS see that and pretend they don't. Does the TRUTH hurt that bad, considering that "same TRUTH" will set ALL HUMANS free from the dilusion of denial. Reply

Johnny Morrison Minneapolis June 11, 2023

in response to Aryeh:

Agreed!! Since these regions were neighboring or in Africa!! Plus even in the Middle East I saw a lot of people of African decent predominantly!!! Reply

Dan Montreal December 27, 2015

Zipporah was indeed a medianite kushite! Zipporah was indeed a Medianite Kushite, i.e. dark skinned. There is no metaphora involved! (Genesis lists Afrik -a dark skinned descendant of Midian (who gives his name to Africa!) It is just that dark skinned persons and women in particular were indeed considered "beautiful" in Moses time! So Miriam was revolted that after marrying such a "beautiful woman" who gave him 2 sons, Moses after receiving Torah decided to abandon her! Miriam thought Moses feeling "important" abandoned her of his own! To show us that Moses did not abandon his wife, because, she was "ugly" for example, Torah (read Hashem) makes emphasis on this fact that she was actually "a kushite woman", so no question about being ugly! she was beautiful! So the devotion to Hashem required from Moses was made more special "since it was actually a sacrifice" to leave such a beautiful woman! Torah is "living" all time, & today it still teaches that those who think dark skin is ugly are wrong!Hashem meant it to be beautiful!:) Reply

Chaim Raphael Aberdeen, MD March 29, 2021

in response to Dan:

You may be correct, however HaShem created us in Bnei Elokim (the image of HaShem). Thus, to a man, any woman can potentially be beautiful. We shouldn't focus on the tribe of a woman now- we should focus on if they are Jewish as HaShem commands us in The Torah. Nevertheless, a man should still be physically attracted to the woman he marries, but that is nothing in comparison to marying a righteous, kind, loving Jewish woman.

Shalom. Reply

Cynthia Maryland January 8, 2023

in response to Dan:

Thank you for this Truth. Also, for reasons mentioned, the drawings of the persons created with dark skin tones, are usually drawn with much lighter skin as if the darker skin tone color didn't exist. Many descendants had darker skin. This was not an offense to G-D. Why is HIS creativity offensive amongst descendants with lighter skin tones? They were Jewish as well regardless of skin color. ABBA created flowers, fish, trees...so many things of different colors with the same needs to include Humans created in HIS image that are descendants of the twelve tribes. We are all bound together by our limitations and should therefore stand together as one community in the world to live, love and learn, to improve our world. My Ethiopian
grandmother had beautiful brown skin that she was grateful for because it was the divine choice of Father to create her so. Praises to ABBA for HIS divine Favor and Love for all of the descendants/remnants of all skin colors.Amen Reply

Cynthia Maryland January 8, 2023

in response to Chaim Raphael :

Jethro (High Priest) dark skinned, was chosen by HaShem to mentor Moses. HaShem found Zipporah most acceptable as Moses wife, she was a loving woman that chose to save her husband's life to include the lives of the masses when Moses failed to circumcise one of his sons. This faithfulness of Zipporah is not to be compared because HaShem created women and part of the punishment of Miriam was for passing judgement on the color of skin HE created and chose for Zipporah. A woman that was the daughter of a High Priest that was chosen by ABBA, with a daughter that was raised to be and stood solid as a righteous, loving, kind and beautiful strong woman, the help mate of HaShems chosen leader. A creation of ABBA Father, created fearfully and wonderfully
...certainly not a mistake. Reply

Tawaunna Washington, DC December 22, 2015

Mosos wife The Cushite reference to the wife of Moses occurs at Numbers 12.[11] In the story Aaron and Miriam harshly criticize Moses' marriage to a Cushite or Kushite woman after he returned to Egypt to set the children of Israel free. Cushites were of the ancestry of Kush, a.k.a. Nubia, in northeast Africa. The Book of Genesis identifies the nations of Africa as descendants of Ham son of Noah. The Midianites themselves were a dark-skinned people often called Kushim, the Hebrew word used to describe dark skinned Africans.[12][13] Reply

yolanda Johnson October 5, 2018

in response to Tawaunna:

The people of Israel are the dark skin race.. How come these dark skin race does not know that and should all dark race should know that they are the God people. Reply

Darryl M. Mance Norristown, Pa June 27, 2020

in response to yolanda Johnson:

We have to do better in educating through teaching “more than” preaching. Reply

Tiki USA December 22, 2021

in response to yolanda Johnson:

How did the European Jews get light skin? Reply

Francis USA September 5, 2022

in response to Tiki:

European Jews. Also known as Askanazie Jews. Not only had light skin. They were above inteligence of others as well. But in the gift of inteligence came the curse of an early death. My lovely wife an Aakanazie Jew contracted Adenocarcinoma at age 68. She was the most brilliant woman you could have ever met. An outstanding Nurse Practitioner. Who helped develop the Jet Ventelator for premature babies. Reply

Brian R. VA October 22, 2022

in response to Francis:

What an interesting comment in declaring that white people are more intelligent than all others. It was people of color that wrote the Scriptures. Moses was mistaken to be an Egyptian by race, and who was smarter than he?

The idea that you would place superior intelligence upon one race of people just makes no sense, given that for thousands of years before Greece came into power, the world was dominated by people of color. History would not agree with you. Reply

Cynthia Maryland January 8, 2023

in response to Francis:

That judgement is not of ABBA Father, the gift is undoubtedly from ABBA Father. However; ABBA Father never limited Brilliance to a skin color. We are to love all of HIS creations. I forgive the obvious offense.
Bless HaShem,Amen. Reply

Cynthia Maryland June 11, 2023

in response to Cynthia :

I beg to differ, when someone is judged by the color of their skin that ABBA chose..that is judging ABBA'S marvelous works. Who is man to look down on another Human because of ABBA'S creativity in deciding color?
My point exactly, on brilliance is not limited to skin color, on this fact we agree. However; some have expressed otherwise. I was sharing this same fact with that person. As an Ethiopian of Jewish descent...daily I have to forgive the offenses from both my Jewish Brothers and Sisters as well as Gentiles. Yes, as I stated all gifts are from ABBA and skin color is not a factor. Some contradict the word ABBA has commanded, because they allow this world to influence their walk. ABBA is the same then as HE is now , HIS word hasn't changed, HE knows the Heart, HE sees all that HIS creations do, think and feel. I don't do the evil to others that has been done unto me. I strive to Live the Shema, not just recite it. Thank you ABBA. Bless HaShem,Amen Reply

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