Zipporah, Wife of Moses

By Marek Halter

Book Overview

From the internationally bestselling author of Sarah comes the riveting story of the remarkable woman who walked beside Moses.

Although she is a Cushite by birth--one of the people of the lands to the south--Zipporah grew up as the beloved daughter of Jethro, high priest and sage of the Midianites. But the color of Zipporah's skin sets her apart, making her an outsider to the men of her adopted tribe, who do not want her as a wife. Then one day while drawing water from a well, she meets a handsome young stranger. Like her, he is an outsider. A Hebrew raised in the house of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Moses is a fugitive, forced to flee his homeland. Zipporah realizes that this man will be the husband and partner she never thought she would have.

Moses wants nothing more than a peaceful life with the Midianites, but Zipporah won't let Moses forget his past--or turn away from his true destiny.

She refuses to marry him until he returns to Egypt to free his people. When God reveals himself to Moses in a burning bush, his words echo Zipporah's, and Moses returns to Egypt with his passionate and generous wife by his side.

A woman ahead of her time, Zipporah leaps from the pages of this remarkable novel. Bold, independent, and a true survivor, she is a captivating heroine, and her world of deserts, temples, and ancient wonders is a fitting backdrop to an epic tale.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400052807
• ISBN13: 9781400052806
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Those Canaan Days Part 2

This book was much better than Sarah, the first book in the Canaan Trilogy. Zipporah was a much more sympathetic character than Sarah, and Moses more so than Abraham. Zipporah was a proud woman who knew her destiny with a defiant certainty. She knew her role besides Moses, even before they had met. Their courtship is passionate (apparently Moses was a sexy thing) and Moses is accepted into Zipporah's family with great trust and love. Her father, Jethro, is a wise and influential figure throughout the novel. It is easy to see where Zipporah gets her wisdom and patience. When Moses realizes his mission to free the Hebrews, Zipporah is his most trusted advisor, his strength and encouragement, though no one would accept her as anything other than a stranger because of her dark skin. She bears the weight of Moses' doubts, his troubled past, and his lack of confidence. Moses becomes the hero he is because of Zipporah's love and trust in Yahweh. However, the Hebrews will always be slaves in their hearts, and once they are free they cannot accept their lives or Zipporah's influence. It is a tragic conclusion to what should have been a glorious liberation. This novel was much more emotional and well-written than Sarah, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series, in hopes that Halter's momentum continues. To see my opinion of the entire trilogy, view my review of Lilah.

Those Canaan Days Part 2

This book was much better than Sarah, the first book in the Canaan Trilogy. Zipporah was a much more sympathetic character than Sarah, and Moses more so than Abraham. Zipporah was a proud woman who knew her destiny with a defiant certainty. She knew her role besides Moses, even before they had met. Their courtship is passionate (apparently Moses was a sexy thing) and Moses is accepted into Zipporah's family with great trust and love. Her father, Jethro, is a wise and influential figure throughout the novel. It is easy to see where Zipporah gets her wisdom and patience. When Moses realizes his mission to free the Hebrews, Zipporah is his most trusted advisor, his strength and encouragement, though no one would accept her as anything other than a stranger because of her dark skin. She bears the weight of Moses' doubts, his troubled past, and his lack of confidence. Moses becomes the hero he his because of Zipporah's love and trust in Yahweh. However, the Hebrews will always be slaves in their hearts, and once they are free they cannot accept their lives or Zipporah's influence. It is a tragic conclusion to what should have been a glorious liberation. This novel was much more emotional and well-written than Sarah, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series, in hopes that Halter's momentum continues. To see my opinion of the entire trilogy, view my review of Lilah.

you go, girl!

i read this as well as "sarah" and liked both. i found zipporah's character to be stronger than sarah's thus i liked it better. she had this strength of character and wonderful sense of self-esteem that is inspiring and, sadly, very rare anymore. it was especially nice to see in light of the racial issues in the book. now, i know this book isn't "gospel" but how great is it to see the amazing strength of women?! i'd recommend this book if you're into women's issues, religion (unless fanatically so), or just a good read. and one of the best things was that you could explore biblical stuff (times/culture) without the in-your-face religious aspect. great book!

Better than Red Tent

Enjoyed Red Tent, but I like Halter's Sarah & Tzipporah books more. Granted the writing (or probably the translation) isn't quite as sophisticated, but for an enjoyable read, I'd choose these over Red Tent any day.

Great!

I applaud Marek Halter with his courage to delve into the unknown. I think that this book was well written and gave a well rounded view of the times. I am very happy that this book did not give into the "bibilical storytelling" that we have all become used to but instead gave a voice to passions, values, and predjudces that we still find ingrained in today's society. I will continue to read his books and am sorry for those who do not recognize this for the gem that it is.