In his first forty years, Moses accomplished much as a prince of Egypt. The historian Josephus records that he led Egypt's army as a general into Ethiopia, where he took an Ethiopian wife to secure peace with the Ethiopians rather than put them to the sword. This strategic marriage, made during his time as a military leader, reflects the extensive preparation God orchestrated for His chosen servant through the royal house of Egypt, equipping Moses for the immense task of leading Israel through the wilderness.

Moses, a man whose life spanned from prince to shepherd to servant of God, had a complex personal history that included two wives, an aspect that led to significant events recorded in Numbers 12. During his early years as a general of Egypt, Moses led a campaign against an Ethiopian incursion. After achieving victory and laying siege to the fortified royal city of Saba, he encountered Tharbis, the daughter of the Ethiopian king. She, admiring his courage and strategic success, fell deeply in love with him and proposed marriage through a trusted servant. Moses accepted on the condition that she would facilitate the surrender of the city. Once the agreement was made and the city delivered, Moses married her, gave thanks to God, and returned to Egypt with his army. Years later, after fleeing Egypt as a fugitive for killing an Egyptian, Moses likely saw his Ethiopian wife return to her native land, no longer favored among the Egyptians. During his forty years as a shepherd in Midian, he married Zipporah and fathered two sons. Following the Pharaoh's death, God called Moses to be His prophet and sent him back to Egypt. As news of Egypt's devastation and the Exodus spread, it is conceivable that his Ethiopian wife, now in her mid-fifties, journeyed back to Egypt and followed the Israelites into the wilderness, catching up with them at Hazeroth to proclaim herself as Moses' wife. This reunion stirred controversy, leading to criticism from Aaron and Miriam, who faced God's displeasure for judging Moses over a past act committed before his conversion, an act God had evidently forgiven. Meanwhile, Zipporah, who rejoined Moses at Sinai, was likely present during these tense events at Hazeroth.