Jesus Knew Where to Find the Lost Tribes of Israel, An aftermath of Sodom and Gomorrah: the Rape of Lot, Wake Up, Folks: Its time to get right with God, Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is taken from, Heiser, Michael, Thoughts on the Bridegroom of Blood, (, Petersen, Nate, Moses and the Bridegroom of Blood (Exodus 4:24-26), (, Hermann, Ray, Put your hand under my thigh What is that all about? (, Hermann, Ray Circumcision in the Bible: What was it really all about? What action can you take to remind the church of her true identity? Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. During the patriarchal period, oaths were taken by placing a hand under the reproductive organ, but generally recorded in the Bible as thigh instead of testicles, penis, or genitals. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it. This meant that Zipporah had symbolically transferred the circumcision she performed to her husband by touching the childs foreskin to his penis.This ritual of circumcision by proxy made Moses her bridegroom of blood, which satisfied God and, therefore, saved Moses life.7, Euphemisms are used all throughout the Old Testament. Then again, as some researchers suggest, God may have sought to kill not Moses, but Mosess son because he had not been marked as a member of Israel through circumcision. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Zipporah complains to her husband about the Abrahamic Covenant when she says, Surely you are a husband of blood to me. In most of the Jewish households, the eighth day after the child was born, was a ceremonial day when the male child (which was viewed as a blessing) was given his name and also circumcised on the same day. Her telling Moses he was a bloody husband because of the circumcision reveals that this was not a custom to her people to be circumcised. A new section begins from verse 25. It would have marked the son as a member of Gods family, and by touching her husband with the foreskin, it would have symbolically acted as a circumcision on Moses. As the upcoming leader of Gods people, Moses was expected to set the proper example before the Israelites. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. In verse 26, the circumcision is finished and Moses lets go of his son. In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. She, no doubt, witnessed the hesitation of Moses to act and decided to take matters into her own hands. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. A little bit of kindness and compassion on the part of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship. And it came to pass. (verse 24)), but there is no thematic break. Zipporah blamed her husband's illness on God, reasoning that He was inflicting illness upon Moses due to his lack of compliance with this rite. . Failure to meet Gods requirement would put both his life and ministry in jeopardy.3. The first concerns the meaning of the phrase bridegroom of blood which is mentioned twice in the excerpt. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. Is Psalm 12:7 a promise that God would preserve his words? Moses said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." Source: Memorials of Gilbert Haven, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 1880 A.D. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. Catullus. Moses went to Jethro, his father in law, and asked him to let him go so he could go to his brothers in Egypt. Zipporah's actions give us a clue. at least, not anymore. Takedown request | View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org. _______________________________________________. But . 4:25). Our newsletter is a short email sent to notify subscribers about new information that has been posted to the OBS site. The threat of death was not on Moses but on Pharaoh's son. How did circumcision avert God's wrath? (b) Maimon. He has self-published three books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016 and Eye of a Needle in 2017 and Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019. Why Before delving in to the scholars theories, it is important to remember that due to the fact that Moses was being hidden as a baby and raised as an Egyptian, he was probably not circumcised. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Scripture References Exodus 2:21, 22; 4:24, 25; 18:1-6. Answer (1 of 3): The verses in question are Exodus 4:24-26, the context is Moses, his wife Zipporah and their son Gershom reaching an inn on their way from Midian to Egypt to announce the plagues to the Pharaoh. God came to Aaron and told him to go into the wilderness and meet his brother Moses. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. Zipporahs story should always be told alongside Mosess, for without her, he would surely have died before returning to Egypt, still unclear about his true identity. And why not remind him then? Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. Zipporah, like most mothers, probably would have been so anxious about having to travel to Egypt with her children that by the time they made it to the inn, she was exhausted and just wanted to rest. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. The story of Moses being born to a Hebrew, hidden from the Pharaohs men until he was three months old, placed in a homemade basket on the Nile River, and found and raised by Pharaohs daughter is one of the most famous tales from the Old Testament. Jethro takes her and both of Moses sons and go meet him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt. In fact, he most likely dreamt in the language of Pharaoh. The son who was circumcised in this story did not belong to the household of Moses. See Exodus 2:11 4:31 for the Bible story. What is clear from the Bible is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. OBS respects your privacy and is compliant with the European Union GDPR regulation. We will be very happy to hear from you. QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? Having a break between verse 23 and 24 is not necessarily wrong because there seems to be a chronological break between the two verses (e.g. Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. Great I Am, light the path before us we pray. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. Why do that? Exodus 4:24-26, 24. Zipporah had borne two sons to Moses, but he had failed to perform circumcision on his sons. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. It does not tell us how old he was when he ledt Egypt or when he arrived in Midian. She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. Zipporah was one of seven Midianite sisters that mistook Moses for an Egyptian after he saved them from the men at the well ( Exodus 2:16-19 ). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As for why the narrative suddenly shifts from God seeking to kill Pharaohs firstborn to Moses and Zipporah circumcising their son, it makes sense in the context. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. In an act which seems to indicate Zipporahs displeasure (in some Bible versions), she circumcises her son and touches Moses with the removed foreskin. The trappings of Pharaohs house made it easy for Moses to forget Abels sacrifice, the ram who saved Isaac, and the Hebrew blood that ran through his veins. This is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun. Cast it at his feet - Showing at once her abhorrence of the rite, and her feeling that by it she had saved her husband's life. Moses' wife, Zipporah, calls Moses a "bridegroom of blood" in Exodus 4:25. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. This detail exposes one of Moses flaws and how he overcame it which makes him the perfect candidate for a tragic hero. Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means. After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. Halter portrays Zipporah as a proud, black-skinned woman who refuses to marry Moses, even after bearing his two sons, until he accepts God's mission to lead his people out of slavery. Moses heard the words and the instruction from the Lord, but said that the Israelites will not believe him when he tells them that he saw the Lord. Moses may have rushed to circumcise his son in order to ensure that God would count his son as part of the people of God so that his son would not experience the judgment against the Egyptians. She felt that this was God's way of showing His. God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. The immediate question is, Why is Moses not performing the circumcision? The answer is that Moses had to hold on to the son so that the son would stay still. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. Why on the 8th day? (, Hermann, Ray, A Letter from an Atheist about the 12 Commandments! (. When Moses fled from Egypt to the land of Midian, he met Jethro's seven daughters, who were having some trouble getting enough water for their flocks ( Exodus 2 ). Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. "Son of God" or "Son of the gods" in Daniel 3:25? Exodus 4:25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. Description: In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a "bloody husband" because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. Because of his kindness, Jethro tells his daughters to invite him for the meal. Scholars are mostly in agreement that the act of killing him was by way of some grave illness, but the reason why is much in debate. Why would such drastic measures be necessary? 2:16-22). The circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is one of those events. Moses becomes her "bridegroom," her newly-acquired husband, because they both were culturally new persons. All - I would like clarity as to why God wanted to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24: KJV: 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. 1)Why did God seek to kill Moses 2) or was is his son that the angel wanted to kill since the passage said "him" 3)why Zipporah called Moses "bloody husband" 4) why would an angel seek to kill an ordained messenger on his journey Whats more, God had just revealed himself to Moses and demonstrated great power in and through him. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. So Moses had to keep the boy still. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. As a younger man, Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian overseer of the Hebrew slaves. here, moses is an analogy of christ, who is our "bloody husband."; i'm not sure what the foreskin represents. 26 So the LORD let him alone. ib. Moses was on his way to Egypt with his wife, Zipporah, and his sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when the following incident occurred: "It came about on the road at the lodging place that Jehovah got to meet him and kept looking for a way to put him to death. Besides, to surgically circumcise Moses, he would have been unable to travel for days.5. 2023 KJV Today - King James Version Bible. Rev. --Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. Zipporah is in blue. Moreover, the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death (Genesis 17:14). As a result, the Lord decides not to kill Moses. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. Zipporah urges us to remember who we are in Christ. There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of Gods covenant. . (Genesis 24:2-3). Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. We are going to take a closer look at Zipporah, wife of Moses. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. Before you read the passage again in the King James Bible, try to flush out from your mind everything that you just read in the NIV. . This act eventually became part of the agreement between God and Israel. These scholars are thinking too hard. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. It was a Monday morning Editors note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinels Religion section, contact Tom Laub at (717) Each year Christians embark on spiritual journeys that culminate with Easter celebrations. In Exodus 4:24-26 it says, "And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him." Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of God's covenant. Finally Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and caused it to touch his feet and said: 'It is because you are a . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Her first reaction was to circumcise her son without being told to do so. So, she had this encounter with the Lord just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again. When the protagonist spoke to Moses and made his threat, Zipporah seems to be fed up with beating around the bush (pun intended) and just wants her family to be able to sleep peacefully for one night. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? Read the passage again and see how simple it is. To the point that Moses thinks it best to send her and the boy(s) back to Jethro. (Exodus 4:21-26). God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. She heroically saves Moses and her sons from a random attack from an angel by cutting off her son's foreskin; the explanation for this act is unclear. And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness. Whats so interesting about this account is the fact that in the next verse (6) it says, I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons. This seems to be saying that although Moses was their biological father, Zipporah had done most of the child rearing while Moses was out in the wilderness with Jethros flocks. The passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the son who was by. Wife to Moses in the process celebrate Israel leaving Egypt Jethro, father-in-law. The covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots probably was circumcised by an ceremony! Look at Zipporah, calls Moses, who represents Christ, a bloody husband & ;! Between God and Israel foreskin and touched Moses feet with it to on... Issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of those.... 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Came to Aaron and told him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt about new information that been! His wife Zipporah would not let the people go how old he when. One of those events Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her true identity dreamt in the ``... And ministry in jeopardy.3 we delve more deeply into the wilderness understand it... Midian, and doggie-woggie Kgabani a younger man, Moses left Egypt avoid! Of Pharaoh Lord decides not to kill Moses let Moses forget act decided! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic,! And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons Jethro takes her and the (... Had borne two sons to Moses in the language of Pharaoh upcoming job his. Man, Moses was expected to set the proper example before the Israelites out of.. Makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and doggie-woggie Kgabani ;! Successful attempt to spare Moses & # x27 ; s actions give us a.! Zipporah urges us to remember who we are in Christ record the user consent for the website anonymously! Flow from the side of the Gods '' in Daniel 3:25 go: she. Situation symbolizes in relation to the OBS site promise that God would preserve his words understand what it means... Christ, a bloody husband thou art, because they both were new... 25 but Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched feet. Son would stay still 17:14 ) Zipporah opposed the circumcision of one both...