Zipporah, Wife of Moses

A Novel

By: Marek Halter

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

From the internationally best-selling 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 chapters 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.

©2005 Marek Halter (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Halter includes many rich cultural details and plenty of steamy sex, and he strikes a balance on miraculous occurrences, offering plausible ideas for some while leaving others open to divine activity." (Publishers Weekly)

Great even after 2nd listening!

Loved the story again!! I've always wondered why Moses sons were killed in this story.

Not my favorite of his tellings

Bernadette actually does a better narration of this story I think then the others. But the story itself drags on in ways not absolutely necessary. I feel there is a lot of necessary filler and it could be told more to the point. There are parts of it that don't sync a 100% with the bible, but the bible also does not reveal the details of this marriage, so who can really say if it is accurate or not. Its kind of a hit or miss on if another will enjoy it more or less. it is one of those books and readings that straddles the fence for me on it being good or being one that I should have just stopped listening too. I did find myself not minding if I walked away from the telling for a few minutes here or there so it did not hold my attention as much I I prefer.

Good read

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

yes i would because it is a good read and I learned what I wanted about Zipporah herself. Moses was portrayed close to scripture according to his character and beliefs.

What did you like best about this story?

interesting read

What didn’t you like about Bernadette Dunne’s performance?

no variety of voices and was a dry voice over.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

maybe

Any additional comments?

not scriptural reall but a good read

Read with an open mind and heart

This is one of my favorite stories because of the narration, unique twist and lessons this story offers.

Zipporah

Overall I’m not sorry I read the book because I love Cristian fiction. It dragged in parts with Zipporah’s misplaced emotions. And the ending was rushed. I can’t recommend it, sorry.

Captivating

Would you listen to Zipporah, Wife of Moses again? Why?

I have listened over and over again because from the first line until the end it draws you in and you are saying, "I want some more, it cant end like this."

What did you like best about this story?

How their love and unspoken romance shouted to you but was so brilliantly captivating and sexy raw cut in a time where romance wasn't spoken of but played down.

Which scene was your favorite?

When he discovered who he was by knowing that she was the woman God had given him from the beginning even though he never spoke a word.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did more than once. All of her books are amazing.

Any additional comments?

more books from the bible in an epic depiction that brings them to life in vivid color....

Interesting...

I chose to listen to this book because, like many others, I craved more of The Red Tent. At times, this book is brilliant, but at other times, it's clunky. On the one hand, the author tries to give his female characters real authority and autonomy in the story, but even so, I couldn't really get over the fact that it often feels like this is some European man's bizarre fantasy about living as a black woman.

A good listen!

This is one of those books where you're sorry they come to an end! The publisher's description provides a good summary of the story, and I was caught up in the daily life of the time of Moses. Old Testament characters were brought to life, and their humanity evoked empathy (and outrage!) as well as a renewed appreciation for what Moses accomplished. Zipporah is a wonderful protagonist, and Bernadette Dunne does justice to all the characters. I recommend this listen!

Disappointed

I have enjoyed many Biblical novels of fiction. This seemed to be racially charged from the beginning. One comment in the Bible does not justify the emphasis of this book. Disappointed with the general theme and the concluding deaths. Too unreal

To far

Don’t call this historical fiction. It’s a story with names from the Bible. To much creative license.