Zipporah The Wife of Moses

A biblical portrait of Zipporah, daughter of Jethro (Reuel), priest of Midian, inspired by the account in Exodus 2:16–21.

A biblical artwork portraying the seven daughters of Jethro gathered at a well in the land of Midian, inspired by Exodus 2:16.

The Bible calls Jethro:

“The priest of Midian” — Exodus 2:16

But Scripture does not fully explain the exact structure of Midianite religion. Scholars and traditions generally understand the priests of Midian as tribal spiritual leaders connected to the descendants of Midian, the son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2).

Here is what we can say biblically:

Jethro knew and honored the God of Israel

After Israel came out of Egypt, Jethro said:

Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.” — Exodus 18:11

Then:

"Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God...” — Exodus 18:12

This is important because:

• Jethro offers sacrifices to the God of Israel

• Aaron and the elders eat with him before God

• Moses listens to Jethro’s wisdom and leadership advice

So Jethro is not portrayed as an enemy priest like the priests of Baal in later Israelite history.

A Bible study artwork portraying Jethro (Reuel), the father of Zipporah and priest of Midian, according to the biblical account in Exodus 2:16–21.

What kind of priest was he?

1. A tribal priest/chief

In the ancient world, priesthood was often connected to:

• family leadership

• clan authority

• worship

• sacrifice

• judging disputes

Jethro appears to function as:

• priest

• elder

• shepherd leader

• judge/counselor

2. Possibly preserving Abrahamic traditions

Since Midian descended from Abraham through Keturah, some believe the Midianites preserved knowledge of:

• the Creator God

• sacrifice

• covenant traditions from Abraham

This may explain why Jethro already understood sacrifice and reverence toward God.

3. Ethiopian/African interpretive traditions

Some Ethiopian and African traditions see Midian as connected to broader Red Sea and Cushitic cultural worlds, where priesthood included:

• wisdom traditions

• oral teaching

• family leadership

• mediation

• sacrificial worship

• hospitality laws

In these traditions, Jethro is sometimes viewed more as a wise elder-priest than a pagan idol priest.

What the Bible does NOT say

The Bible does not explicitly say:

• Jethro worshiped idols

• Jethro was a Levitical priest

• Jethro was a priest of Baal

• Jethro was Rephaim

• Jethro practiced Egyptian religion

• 
  

One interesting detail

Before the Law of Moses and the Levitical priesthood were formally established, priesthood in Scripture was broader.

Examples:

• Melchizedek

• Noah offering sacrifices

• Abraham building altars

• Jethro acting as priest

So Jethro belongs to an earlier biblical world where priesthood was often patriarchal and tribal rather than tied specifically to Levi.