Zippor צִפּוֹר
Father of Balak, king of Moab
Who is Zippor in the Bible?
Zippor was the father of Balak, the king of Moab who opposed the Israelites during their wilderness journey. He appears in the biblical account of Balak's attempt to hire the prophet Balaam to curse Israel, mentioned multiple times throughout Numbers 22-24 in connection with his son's name. Although Zippor himself takes no active role in the narrative, his son's hostility toward Israel suggests he may have shared the same opposition to the Israelites. Zippor's significance lies primarily in being the father of a king whose failed curse attempt became a pivotal moment in Israel's history, demonstrating God's protection of His people against their enemies (Numbers 22:2-4, Joshua 24:9).
Biography
Zippor was the father of Balak, the king of Moab who opposed the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. He is mentioned several times in the account of Balak's attempts to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam (Numbers 22-24). Zippor's name, which means "bird" or "sparrow," is consistently used in conjunction with Balak's name, emphasizing his role as the king's father. Although little is known about Zippor's life, his son Balak's actions suggest that he may have shared the same hostility towards the Israelites. In Jos.24.9 and Jdg.11.25, Zippor is mentioned in the context of recounting Israel's past conflicts with Moab, further highlighting the significance of his son's opposition to Israel. Some scholars speculate that Zippor may have been the "former king of Moab" mentioned in Num.21.26, but this is not explicitly stated in the text.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentNumbers 5 verses
- Numbers 22:2
"Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,"
- Numbers 22:4
"So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,"
- Numbers 22:10
"And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:"
- Numbers 22:16
"They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,"
- Numbers 23:18
"Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor."
Joshua 1 verse
- Joshua 24:9
"Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,"
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Judges 1 verse
- Judges 11:25
"Are you now so much better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | צִפּוֹר |