For some reason, to us wholly inexplicable, Moses seems to have sent his family back to the home which they had just left, before reaching Egypt, and they resided with Jethro until the tribes, having passed through all the tribulations which had been prophesied for them, made their triumphant exodus from the land of bondage and encamped at the foot of Sinai.  Jethro, who seems to have taken a deep interest in the mission of Moses, immediately on hearing of their arrival, took his daughter and her sons to rejoin the husband and father from whom they had been long separated.  Touching and delightful was the re-union, and we love to linger over the few days which Zipporah’s father spent with her in this their last interview on earth.  The aged man listened with wonder and joy to the recital of all that Jehovah had wrought.  He found his faith confirmed and his soul strengthened, and doubtless felt it a great privilege to leave his child among those who were so evidently under the protection of the Almighty, and before whom he constantly walked in the pillar of fire and cloud.  With a father’s care and love, he gave such counsel as he saw his son-in-law needed, and after uniting with the elders in solemn sacrifice and worship, in which he assumed his priestly office, he departed to his own land.  We seem to see Zipporah, as with tearful eyes she watched his retreating footsteps, and felt that she should see her father’s face no more on earth.  Not without fearful struggles are the ties which bind a daughter to her parents sundered, though as a wife she cleaves to her husband, and strives for his sake to repress her tears and hide the anguish she cannot subdue.  One comfort, however, remained to Zipporah.  Soothingly fell on her ear the invitation of her husband to her brother, the companion of her childhood, “We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you:  Come thou with us and we will do thee good:  for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.”  Deprecatingly she doubtless looked upon him, as he answered, “I will not go, but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred;” and united in the urgent entreaty, “Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.”  With her husband and brother near, on whom to lean, she must have been cheered, and the bitterness of her final separation from home alleviated.

Feelings of personal joy or grief were soon, however, banished from her mind by the mighty wonders which were displayed in the desert, and by the absorbing scenes which transpired while Israel received the law, and were prepared to pursue their way to Canaan.  Of her after history we gather little, and the time of her death is not mentioned.  One affliction, not uncommon in this evil world, fell to her lot.  Her husband’s family were unfriendly and unkind to her, and she was the occasion of their reproach and ridicule.  But she was happy in being the