Difference between revisions of "When Did Zipporah Return to Midyan/2"
(Original Author: Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
(Original Author: Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
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<category name="After Arriving in Egypt">After Arriving in Egypt | <category name="After Arriving in Egypt">After Arriving in Egypt | ||
<p>Zipporah returned with Moshe to Egypt and went back to Midyan only afterwards.</p> | <p>Zipporah returned with Moshe to Egypt and went back to Midyan only afterwards.</p> | ||
− | <mekorot><multilink><a href="ShemotRabbah4-4" data-aht="source">Shemot Rabbah</a><a href="ShemotRabbah4-4" data-aht="source">4:4</a><a href="ShemotRabbah5-19" data-aht="source">5:19</a><a href="Shemot Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Shemot Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBS18-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBS18-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Ramban4-19" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="Ramban4-19" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:19-20</a><a href="Ramban5-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 5:22</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban)" data-aht="parshan">About Ramban</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="KaspiShemot4-20" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="KaspiShemot4-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:20</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink><fn>This appears to also be the position of <multilink><a href="Rashbam18-2" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="Rashbam4-24" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:24</a><a href="Rashbam18-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:2</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About Rashbam</a></multilink> who writes "ושילחה משה ממצרים". As Rashbam contends that Moshe incurred Hashem's wrath by taking his family with him, it is unclear why he does not say like the Tzeror HaMor above that Moshe separated from his family at the inn.</fn></mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="ShemotRabbah4-4" data-aht="source">Shemot Rabbah</a><a href="ShemotRabbah4-4" data-aht="source">4:4</a><a href="ShemotRabbah5-19" data-aht="source">5:19</a><a href="Shemot Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Shemot Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBS18-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBS18-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Ramban4-19" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="Ramban4-19" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:19-20</a><a href="Ramban5-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 5:22</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About Ramban</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="KaspiShemot4-20" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="KaspiShemot4-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:20</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink><fn>This appears to also be the position of <multilink><a href="Rashbam18-2" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="Rashbam4-24" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:24</a><a href="Rashbam18-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 18:2</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About Rashbam</a></multilink> who writes "ושילחה משה ממצרים". As Rashbam contends that Moshe incurred Hashem's wrath by taking his family with him, it is unclear why he does not say like the Tzeror HaMor above that Moshe separated from his family at the inn.</fn></mekorot> |
− | <point><b>Change in plans</b> – Ramban also thinks that Moshe's plans changed, however, his suggestion goes in the opposite direction of the Mekhilta, R. Saadia, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra above. Ramban explains that originally Moshe planned on returning to Egypt by himself in disguise, and this is what he told Yitro in 4:18. However, when Hashem informed him in 4:19 that his enemies had died, Moshe could now go back openly and also take his family with him.<fn>Ramban is thus able to explain the order of the verses without needing to say that there is achronology. This is consistent with his general approach – see <a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban)" data-aht="parshan">Ramban</a>.</fn></point> | + | <point><b>Change in plans</b> – Ramban also thinks that Moshe's plans changed, however, his suggestion goes in the opposite direction of the Mekhilta, R. Saadia, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra above. Ramban explains that originally Moshe planned on returning to Egypt by himself in disguise, and this is what he told Yitro in 4:18. However, when Hashem informed him in 4:19 that his enemies had died, Moshe could now go back openly and also take his family with him.<fn>Ramban is thus able to explain the order of the verses without needing to say that there is achronology. This is consistent with his general approach – see <a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">Ramban</a>.</fn></point> |
<point><b>Family accompanying</b> – Shemot Rabbah suggests that this is important for personal reasons, so that they can participate in the Exodus and revelation at Sinai.<fn>Cf. Mekhiltas and Rashi above that it was a negative decision on the personal level.</fn> Ramban and Ibn Kaspi also view this as a positive development, but as being for the benefit of the nation that they should be imbued with confidence that the Exodus will be happening soon thereafter.<fn>Cf. Ibn Ezra's view that it would have a negative impact on the nation.</fn></point> | <point><b>Family accompanying</b> – Shemot Rabbah suggests that this is important for personal reasons, so that they can participate in the Exodus and revelation at Sinai.<fn>Cf. Mekhiltas and Rashi above that it was a negative decision on the personal level.</fn> Ramban and Ibn Kaspi also view this as a positive development, but as being for the benefit of the nation that they should be imbued with confidence that the Exodus will be happening soon thereafter.<fn>Cf. Ibn Ezra's view that it would have a negative impact on the nation.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>Zipporah ultimately departed</b> – According to R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Yitro went down to Egypt to pick up Zipporah and take her back to Midyan. According to Shemot Rabbah and Ramban, after his initial failure to persuade Paroh to let the people go, Moshe himself went back to Midyan with Zipporah for six months.<fn>See <a href="Chronology of Shemot" data-aht="page">Chronology of Shemot 5-7</a> regarding how much time elapsed.</fn></point> | <point><b>Zipporah ultimately departed</b> – According to R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Yitro went down to Egypt to pick up Zipporah and take her back to Midyan. According to Shemot Rabbah and Ramban, after his initial failure to persuade Paroh to let the people go, Moshe himself went back to Midyan with Zipporah for six months.<fn>See <a href="Chronology of Shemot" data-aht="page">Chronology of Shemot 5-7</a> regarding how much time elapsed.</fn></point> |
Version as of 23:17, 30 December 2014
When Did Zipporah Return to Midyan?
Exegetical Approaches
The commentators offer several possibilities as to the timing of Zipporah's return to Midyan:
Before Moshe Left for Egypt
Moshe sent Zipporah and their children back to Yitro's home before he departed for Egypt.
On the Way to Egypt
This approach subdivides regarding the point during the journey at which Zipporah was sent back:
Before the incident at the inn
Initially, Zipporah and the children were accompanying Moshe back to Egypt, but Moshe changed his mind on the way and sent them back to Yitro before the incident at the inn (4:24-26).
After the incident at the inn
Moshe sent Zipporah and their children back to Yitro's home immediately following the incident at the inn in Shemot 4.
After meeting Aharon
Moshe sent Zipporah home only after Aharon met him and suggested that there was no point in bringing more people to be enslaved in Egypt.
After Arriving in Egypt
Zipporah returned with Moshe to Egypt and went back to Midyan only afterwards.