Exodus 2:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

She brought forth Him Hirsam, representing a people truly set apart; for those who are marked by the Holy Spirit, who receive heavenly visits, and are transformed into splendor, reflecting the image of the Son, are indeed strangers in this world. It is only fitting for them to declare, "For we have no lasting city here, but we seek the one that is to come, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 13:14; Hebrews 11:10). While they journey on earth, they reside in the heavens, not desiring earthly possessions but fervently pursuing that which belongs to the age to come. They have embraced the path of following Christ, who for our sake became like us and entered this realm. He did not concern Himself with worldly matters; rather, He exemplified for us the blueprint of a perfect and righteous life.

Moses married Zipporah, and she bore him two sons. Although she consented to become Moses' wife, she was reluctant to fully unite with him. As a priest's daughter, raised among sacrificial offerings, she was familiar with the reverence of various deities. She neither permitted him to circumcise both sons nor outright denied the procedure. While she allowed the circumcision of one son to fulfill the covenant of Abraham, she rejected the circumcision of the other, aiming to preserve the uncircumcised tradition of her father's household. In naming his sons, Moses did not gain the approval of either Zipporah or her father. He named the first son to commemorate his journey for the sake of God and the second in honor of his salvation from Pharaoh.

The exact timing of Moses’ marriage to Zipporah, whether it occurred shortly after his arrival in Midian or later, remains unclear. However, it is evident that their sons were born during the concluding years of Moses’ four decades in Midian, as shown by their youth when he returned to Egypt, riding alongside their mother on donkeys (Ex. 4:20). The names Moses chose for his sons reflect his emotional state. He named his first son Gershom, which means a stranger in a foreign land, symbolizing Moses’ sorrow over his separation from his people and his extended stay in a land that was not his own.

In the Hebrew tradition, the term Ger refers to a stranger or guest, while in Coptic, Shemma signifies a land that is foreign or not one's own. The name Gershom, as used in Egyptian, aptly embodies the sentiment articulated by Moses. The name Ely-ether translates to "God is my help." Although the Hebrew text does not specifically mention Eliezer, in Exodus 4:20, Moses is seen leaving his father-in-law and taking his sons with him. Later, in Exodus 17:3-4, both sons of Moses are referenced. The historian Flavius Josephus records the names of Moses’ sons as Hirsam and Eliezer, along with explanations for their names. It is notable that in Numbers 26:57-61, Eliezer, Moses' son, is absent, likely indicating his passing during the journey in the wilderness.